Council exceeds Surrey tree planting target
A report finds some 885,000 trees have been planted, but there are concerns over survival rates.
Over the past five years, Surrey County Council has planted more than 800,000 new trees, surpassing its own target of 600,000, according to a report. In the 2025/26 financial year alone, 116,359 trees were planted. Elmbridge Borough Council recently called for the future East Surrey council to update its tree strategy to consider survival rates, stating that many trees in the borough are dying within a year due to insufficient aftercare.
Surrey County Council aims to plant 1.2 million trees by 2030, one for every resident. The council's climate change delivery programme has reduced carbon emissions by around 60%, and it has provided energy efficiency improvements to over 1,438 low-income households. However, the programme has faced challenges, including external market conditions, supply chain constraints, and wider economic pressures.
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