CLA comments on Government tree planting target

COUNCIL staff, foster carers and their families braved the elements, on Thursday, 20 May 2021, and embarked on a mission to encourage anyone who is thinking about setting sail on a new life, to become a foster carer for Sefton Council. As part of Sefton's Foster Care Fortnight celebrations, members of the fostering community climbed on board the:- 'Pride of Sefton' to spread the message that the Council needs more local people to give a loving and stable home to vulnerable children from the Borough.

Lisa Cummings Service Manager for Sefton's Fostering Service said:- "Nothing stopped us celebrating Foster Carer Fortnight on the 'Pride of Sefton' today. The weather was wild but we she still wanted to get out in the community and spread the word. Thank you to Sovini who helped us by donating today's sailing and to the 'Pride of Sefton' crew who did an amazing job. Fostering is not just about these two weeks. All year round we want to show our carers that we value them and send a message for people to come on board with our amazing team and support network and become a foster carer for Sefton"

Taking in the beautiful sights of Liverpool's waterways, foster carers Sue and Derek said:- "Coming out in this awful weather proved just how much fostering means to us because it doesn't matter what the weather or the situation, you just want to get out there and spread the message that these children need our help. Anyone who has given fostering even the slightest consideration should really go for it because it's changed the world for us."

Dave is a Placement Support Worker at Sefton and was also part of the crew who regularly takes children who are fostered for days out on 'The Pride of Sefton'. He said:- "I'm so glad that we can use the 'Pride of Sefton' as part of our recruitment campaign. People all around can see our sign and our details so it's another way of getting the word out there. The boat has so many uses as the children love it when we bring them on and sail down the river and in and out of the locks. Bringing them together allows them to speak to other children who are in a similar situation as them. This helps to build their confidence while they're having fun."

Sefton Council is committed to offering support to its carers every step of the way. This includes:- specialist and peer support, training and a financial package. To make an enquiry or find out more please visit:- SeftonFostering.Co.UK or call free on:- 08009232777.

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THE UK Government's ambitious plans to plant 7,000 hectares of woodlands per year by 2024 need to be underpinned by the right policies, says the Country Land and Business Association (CLA).

Under the new target, approximately 7,000 hectares of woodlands will be planted per year by the end of this Parliament, in May 2024, alongside new initiatives to improve the health of our trees, create more woodlands in cities and deliver thousands of green jobs. The increase in woodland creation rates will be backed up by new funding for tree nurseries to improve domestic tree production and maintain high levels of biosecurity. It will also ensure the trees we plant now are healthy and resilient to the impacts of changing climate and increasing threats from pests and diseases.

Responding to the England Trees Action Plan, CLA President Mark Bridgeman said:- "We welcome Government's plans to plant 7,000 hectares of woodlands per year in England by 2024 to tackle the current climate crisis. But the challenge of reaching this target and maintaining this planting rate shouldn't be underestimated and will need to be underpinned by the right mix of policies and incentives. Going forward, it's critically important that Government makes woodland creation more attractive for farmers and landowners to help mitigate climate change, increase biodiversity and produce more timber from their land. We welcome the new funding for our tree nurseries which will enable a home grown forestry economy to develop. We need a variety of trees; both native broadleaf and commercial mixes; for amenity, biodiversity, and for timber, which will lock up carbon in buildings for decades to come. New initiatives to improve the health of our trees are also welcome because trees are under threat from a growing number of pests and diseases such as grey squirrels and Ash dieback."