Sheffield programme hopes to increase tree diversity

Sheffield streets are home to an increasingly varied street tree stock thanks to the Streets Ahead contract.

As part of the 25 year highway maintenance contract around 6,000 of Sheffield’s 36,000 street trees are set to be replaced by the end of 2017, with 600 additional trees being planted before the end of the programme.

Over 70,000 trees have been planted across Sheffield in the last three years, including those planted as part of the Streets Ahead contract and those in parks and woodlands included in the Council’s community forestry programme.

After years of under-investment, Sheffield streets are now benefiting from a long-term highway maintenance programme which will ensure a replenished and managed street tree stock for generations to come.

Throughout the programme, Streets Ahead arboriculture professionals are selecting replacement trees from an approved list of UK grown tree species which are suitable for Sheffield’s modern highway environment.

The trees are specifically selected to cope with Sheffield’s climate and have the best possible chances of surviving temperature fluctuations,nutritionally poor soils, winter maintenance salt treatments and the challenging urban environment.

Many of the trees selected are native species such as Oak, Beech and Rowan which all support and attract a diverse wildlife population such as birds, bats and bees. In addition, Streets Ahead have planted a new variety of disease resistant Elm trees at various sites across the city to help replenish the Elms lost during the 1970’s and 1980’s Dutch Elm disease outbreak.

The early establishment of healthy trees that thrive to maturity is key to maximising the environmental benefits that trees bring to the city. All species selected are chosen with suitability and sustainability in mind, including the consideration of future pruning requirements and potential obstructions to both structures and people.

To date, out of over 4,000 trees planted since 2012 as part of the Streets Ahead contract, less than 1% of trees have failed to establish. The trees that have failed have been replaced.