The number of new trees planted by South Lakeland District Council dramatically declined last year compared to the previous year.
Figures released by the local authority under Freedom of Information show that in 2018/19, the council planted 262 new trees and ordered the felling of 173 existing trees (a net increase of 89 new trees). This compares to the previous year (2017/18) when 407 new trees were planted and 159 were removed by the council (a net increase of 248 new trees).
The Liberal Democrat-controlled local authority has promised to plant at least 2,000 new trees by 2025 – an average of 285 new trees every year.
Councillor Tom Harvey, the Conservative Group leader on South Lakeland District Council, said: “South Lakeland’s Lib Dem Council has finally realised that our climate and local environment matter to our residents but once again the Lib Dem administration shows just how out of touch they are by creating policies instead of planting.
“The council is right to prioritise tree planting but after taking into account all the trees it also removed last year, the number of extra ones planted adds up to just 89.
“At this rate, increasing the number of trees in the district to the target of just 2,000 will take until 2041 – 16 years later than promised.”