Tree Planting in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Young Peoples Service set to be extended

A successful tree planting strategy in urban areas could be extended to include selected sites in rural villages for the first time in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Cabinet is considering expanding the Borough Council’s Urban Tree Planting Strategy – by creating carbon capture areas in built-up, rural locations – during a new phase of the scheme which outlines planting plans at eight provisional sites over the forthcoming winter, subject to formal consultation with residents.

The strategy, launched in 2020, is part of the Sustainable Environment Strategy which focuses on supporting the Council’s ambitious net zero goal across its operations and assets by 2030 – through reducing carbon production and offsetting any residual carbon emissions – as well as helping wildlife to thrive. The Council has since planted 19,604 trees at 27 sites and has facilitated the planting of another 9,995 by the community through its Britain in Bloom “Plant a Bloomin’ Tree” project.

As part of the Cabinet proposals, ward councillors in rural villages would be invited to put forward a list of council-owned sites for possible planting in the future, with up to two rural locations being included in the latest round.  The next phase is being funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund

Cllr. David Hutchison, Cabinet member for sustainable environment, is pictured at Sandy Lane in Newcastle where 30 Sakura cherry trees were planted, in March 2021, during the first phase of the Urban Tree Planting Strategy.

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A service that looks after children and young people’s health and wellbeing in Staffordshire could be set to continue.

Staffordshire County Council, along with the Staffordshire and Stoke-on Trent Integrated Care Board  is set to jointly recommission a new children and young people’s emotional health and wellbeing service.

The county council’s cabinet will consider options for recommissioning the service, which helps support children and young people between 5 and 18 years old (25 if they have care needs or disabilities) with their emotional health and wellbeing.

The service works with families and communities, and focuses on prevention and early intervention to help children maintain good mental health. In 2023/24, it supported nearly 13,000 children and young people. If agreed, the service will go through a tender process, with the new service starting on 1 April 2025. This will last for 2 years, with the option to extend for a further two years.