WELLINGTON is leading the way in doing its bit to improve the local environment and will be a shining example to other towns, according to local councillors.

Members of Wellington Town Council’s environment committee agreed on Wednesday (September 16) to spend nearly £7,000 from the authority’s environmental improvements budget for the delivery of the next stages of its extensive planting programme for new trees.

The council’s open spaces manager, Darren Hill, said: “The council has been progressing its tree planting strategy with the aim of increasing tree cover across the town, improving the local environment and enhancing the appearance and biodiversity of public spaces.”

There are hopes in years to come that Wellington will have a lot of areas under a tree canopy which could play a crucial role in the environment as canopies act as natural air purifiers, filter harmful pollutants and improve air quality.

Mr Hill was asked during the meeting if he had found any other local authorities which were trying to nurture tree canopies.

And he responded: “I haven’t been able to find another town which is doing this. If there is we could be asking them about what works and what doesn’t.”

But the Mayor, Cllr Mark Lithgow, said: “To be honest I wouldn’t be surprised if other towns look to us to see what we are doing rather than us looking at them to ask what they are doing.”

Mr Hill added that he was hoping to have conversations with housing developers to see if they could be encouraged to get on board with the tree project and think more about the environment when building new estates in Wellington. Councillors agreed that that would be an excellent way forward.

Councillors were also advised that once the new planted saplings reach a certain height – they will need to be inspected annually at £5.25 per tree per year.

Mr Hill reassured them, however, that the trees would be inspected in groups – rather than individually.

“Don’t worry,” he said. “Don’t think we’re planting 3,000 saplings and then it’s going to cost us £5 a tree in the future for them to be inspected. They will be inspected in groups.”

Councillors agreed to the new phase of the tree planting strategy and that it would provide the council with a “clear programme for future years and allow planting opportunities to be identified and prioritised over a longer period.”

“It would also enable the council to consider future maintenance requirements, available budgets, suitable species and the long-term management of the trees planted,” added a report.

The areas for tree planting in 2026 in Wellington are as follows: Laburnum Road, Beech Hill, Chestnutt Close, Pyles Thorne Road, Blackmoor Road junction with Elm Road, Oakfield Park, junction of Swains Lane and Barn Meads Road, verge near Villa Verde in Rockwell Green, junction of Swains Lane and Elworthy Drive, verge on corner of Wardleworth Way and Milverton Road, missing containers in the town centre, replacement trees in Howard Road and Gay Close, Wellington Recreation Ground and Tonedale.