Stockport Council and City of Trees, the Community Forest for Greater Manchester, have secured funding from Central Government’s Nature for Climate Fund which aims to plant more than 40 million trees and restore 35,000 hectares of peatland in England to help increase biodiversity, lock up carbon and reduce our vulnerability to climate change. This will make a key contribution to the Government’s legally binding commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

The Government has also launched a pilot initiative, the Nature Recovery Network, to help address the decline in our native wildlife, currently 54 native species are at risk. Greater Manchester is one of 5 pilot areas & planting more trees will form an essential part of restoring and linking habitats so wildlife can thrive.

Planting more trees is key in our fight against climate change owing to their ability to absorb greenhouse gases, provide natural air conditioning and in particular intercept rain water to help reduce the risk of flooding. Trees are also good for air quality as they are able to capture or disperse harmful pollution. Planting more trees will form part of Stockport’s response to delivering on their Declaration of a Climate Emergency.

In Stockport 8 sites have been identified where increasing tree cover will provide a range of wildlife and amenity benefits. One of those sites is adjacent to the River Tame near Willow Grove Cemetery. These planting locations have been carefully selected to ensure that they will not cause detriment to existing habitat space and the trees will be set back from footpaths to make sure that sight lines are maintained. Two Government mapping sites that host habitat data have been checked to ensure that the planting proposals do not conflict with any key habitats and the Greater Manchester Archaeological Advisory Service has also been consulted to make sure that there is not anything of historical significance in the planting area.

Event at Brunswick Cemetery 31st August 2019 by FOSC

The purpose of the day was to show off the renovation of an old cemetery in the centre of Portwood roundabout Stockport.

Our first visit to the site was February 2016, initially clearing the place from debris removing self-seeded saplings, pruning trees, amd cutting the grassed area. Whilst clearing the site we uncovered the footprint of the chapel this area was covered with paving stones over time some have been raised slightly with roots of self-seeding saplings making some places uneven.

FOSC applied for funding to renovate the flagged area and install two interpretation boards on the site and would like to say thank you to the Stockport’s Council officers for the support and advice given to the group enabling them to carry out this project successfully.    Thanks also go to  Stockport’s Local Area Committee, Tesco and Vernon Building Society.

“Without the help of the cadets and staff from Greater Manchester ACF over the past few years, we could not have achieved as much as we have.  They have worked tirelessly in all weathers and are a credit to the Army Cadet Force and the community.