Tree and Woodland Strategy

In 2021 the Council agreed a Tree and Woodland Strategy (2021-2032) that recognises the importance of trees, the many benefits they afford us and the critical role they can play in mitigating the effects of climate change. This strategy is required to ensure the Council's limited budget is focused on positive planting programmes and managing tree care and risks.

The following are the key aims of the strategy that will guide the Council's management of trees.

Community Engagement: to actively engage and collaborate with the community and others in valuing trees as a vital community asset.

Tree Planting: to increase the native tree canopy within the Borough by planting more trees to ensure a healthy balanced tree population that positively responds to the impacts of climate change and urban expansion.

Managing Trees: to ensure good tree care, through sustainable management of the tree population and reducing risk.

A Year in the Life of a Turkey Oak

Over the course of a year, from March 2025 to March 2026, the Council captured this time-lapse of one of the largest Turkey Oak (Quercus cerris) trees on the island of Ireland, located in Ballymenoch Park, Holywood.

Watch as the tree transforms through the seasons, from spring budburst and lush summer foliage to vibrant autumn colours and the stillness of winter. Trees are a vital part of our Borough, supporting wildlife, storing carbon, improving air quality and enhancing the health and wellbeing of our communities.

This remarkable tree is a great example of the many benefits our urban tree canopy provides and why protecting and enhancing our tree population is so important for future generations.