Oxford goes green

Oxford City Council last week (30 June) became the seventh council in England to adopt the Horticultural Trades Association’s (HTA) Greening the UK motion. The adoption of the motion, proposed by Councillor Jean Fooks, commits the council to ensuring that planting outlined in planning developments is actually installed and maintained. It also gives their support to exemplar schemes and the lobbying of local MPs to support the principles of the Greening the UK campaign within Parliament.

Councillor Fooks said, “Oxford is under great pressure to build more dwellings to accommodate local need. As we are seeing more and more houses being replaced with blocks of flats with little green space and often large areas of car parking, it is essential that we do what we can to increase the planting of trees and shrubs both on site and on other land. The benefits to our health and wellbeing as well as to our environment are clear.”

Greening the UK has highlighted the fifty percent reduction in soft landscaped areas in new developments over the past decade. Further empirical evidence also suggests that only fifty percent of the green planting specified in planning applications is being delivered.

Soft landscaping, gardens and green spaces can have a tremendous benefit in absorbing water, replenishing the water table and reducing flood damage. Trees also provide shade and shelter in public spaces, reducing temperature in “hot spots” or the effect of wind flow in urban areas. With climate change expected to drive up temperatures and produce more sporadic and widespread flooding, the continual reduction of green landscaping will have a damaging impact.

Green planting also reaps a social benefit. For example, HTA research shows that building projects with high levels of planting have fifty-two percent fewer total crimes, that hospital recovery rates improve where planting is visible and that work place productivity increases with visible greenery.

David Gwyther, Director General of the HTA, commented “We are delighted that Oxford has adopted the Greening the UK motion demonstrating that it is a council that appreciates all the benefits that green landscapes can provide in terms of environmental, social and economic improvements. We look forward to seeing the positive changes take place in Oxford and encourage other councils to follow their lead.”