§ Ms ShipleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if there will be specific mechanisms proposed in the Urban White Paper to encourage the planting of trees in urban areas. [88807]
§ Mr. MealeThe Urban White Paper will look at ways of improving the quality of life for people in our towns and cities. Urban greening, including the contribution of trees, will be an important part of this.
The Government already acknowledge the important role of trees in urban regeneration by sponsoring a range of programmes which involve tree planting as part of a wider strategy to improve the urban environment. These include the Community Forest programme, the National Forest and others under the Single Regeneration Budget.
177WWe also support the work of the National Urban Forestry Unit. They have shown that, by using simple, low-cost techniques urban forestry can help to improve the environment in a practical way and make trees a more significant feature of the urban landscape.