New Tree Management Policy adopted in 2021 and has been used since.
Trees are a key element of any urban climate change strategy. One of the best ways of making our towns and cities more hospitable in the coming decades is to increase the number, and size, of trees in our urban areas. Trees help the response to the climate crises by capturing unavoidable emissions, improving air quality, absorbing pollutants, and helping to mitigate surface water flooding.
Amenity trees refer to trees that are planted in parks, open spaces, and along our streets and cycle networks; that is any tree that is on public land with the exception of woodland trees.
It has long been recognised that amenity trees are an essential landscape feature within our 21st century towns and cities, and Stevenage is no exception. The new town planners included for extensive tree planting to be undertaken as well as the retention of much of the existing farm woodland and hedgerow during the initial development of the town. Their foresight has been realised in the tree stock which we have inherited and enjoy today.
Trees positively contribute to our lives in many ways and just as it is us who are benefitting now, from the foresight of the original new town planners, so we must show our commitment to the future by continuing to plant new, and manage existing, trees for the benefit of future generations.
In combination with developing a new Amenity Tree Management Policy, SBC are also working to develop a Tree and Woodland Strategy. To find out more about our Amenity Tree Management Policy, the full document with the current policy is available here, and its associated press release in 2021 can be accessed here.
The new Stevenage Tree & Woodland Strategy sets out 59 actions, for trees, woodlands and ancient hedgerows, across 10 key themes: Tree Canopy Cover, Engagement & Collaboration, Woodland Management, Nature Connectivity, Climate Change, Age Diversity, Species Diversity, Tree Health & Resilience, Risk Management, Protecting & Enhancing the Historic Environment.
The strategy was approved by Cabinet on 4 June 2025
The Stevenage's Amenity Tree Management Policy sets out 26 policies within 9 key themes: Amenity Tree Stock; Routine Tree Maintenance; Tree Planting, Establishment and Design; Trees and Community; Trees and Buildings; Trees and New Developments; Dangerous Trees in Private Ownership; and Environmental Responsibilities.
This policy document complements the Hertfordshire County Council Highway Tree Strategy and Guidance Document, July 2020, and will be reviewed in line with the introduction of new county or national strategic documents.