Workstream 4 - Climate Change Adaptation and Carbon Sequestration
4.1 Around 100 trees have been planted already as part of the Urban Tree Challenge fund and by the end of March it is estimated that this figure will increase to over 350. It is expected that by the end of this financial year, the total number of trees planted across Manchester will be over 3,400 (including Council and Partner planting), 11,000 hedgerows (approx. length of 2.75km) and seven new community orchards, including Smedley Fields in Collyhurst and Philips Park Community Orchard in Clayton planted in February 2022 by The Orchard Project. Work on updating the Tree Action Plan will begin in spring and will draw on information from the Managing Manchester's Trees and Tree Opportunity mapping work.
4.2 A learning exchange event on Sponge Cities was held with Wuhan with GrowGreen partners and Salford University on 22 February 2022, which focused on how sponge city data can be used to make cities more resilient. Groundwork, on behalf of the GrowGreen project continue to develop community activities centred around the park and provide ongoing support to the Gorton Park Friends Group. The updated Implementation Plan for the Green & Blue Infrastructure Strategy is now complete and was shared with Environment and Climate Change Scrutiny Committee on the 10 March 2022.
4.3 The tree opportunity mapping report has been refined to take onboard comments from members of the Green & Blue Infrastructure Board. Once complete, this work will inform future planting sites.
4.4. Locations have been identified for planting more than 1,200 trees in phase 2 of Tree Action MCR. An event, on the 11 March 2022 is planned to celebrate Tree Action MCR as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy. The Executive Member for Environment is attending. Three more new community orchards are planned for Cheetham Hill, Miles Platting and Withington.