Cork City Council Tree Strategy
Cork City Tree Strategy
Strategy & Tree Management Cork City Council
INTRODUCTION In August 2022, Cork City Council adopted its first Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy as part of the Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028. Green and Blue Infrastructure, or ‘GBI’, is a term used to describe the network of natural and semi-natural spaces and corridors in the city. Cities can be viewed as living organisms, with GBI running like veins and nerves through the built environment. These veins include systems of connected vegetation, soil and waterways that form the natural ecosystem, within which the urban fabric lies. This connected network provides for people, biodiversity, and the operation of natural systems. Trees are a fundamental building block of any GBI network. At present, there are over 310,000 trees and over 1,400 kilometres of hedgerows in Cork City’s administrative area. Found in varied settings including city streets, public parks, back gardens, educational and businesses campuses, riverbanks, and woodlands, these trees fulfil many purposes: they are fundamental for human health and well- being and for the natural environment, an essential part of Cork City’s character and heritage, and a valuable economic asset. Given the fundamental importance of trees, Cork City has an objective of increasing its tree cover. But doing so is not always straightforward. Urban environments are complex and can present several challenges for trees. In addition, Cork is a growing city with ambitious development targets and an expanding urban environment. Integrating existing trees and planting new ones takes careful design to ensure their longevity and health. Collaboration and working together as a community will also be essential, as an estimated 17% of total tree canopy in the city is publicly owned by Cork City Council, with the majority being in private or institutional ownership.
This first Tree Strategy, which was adopted in April 2024, has been prepared to address these issues. It sets out Cork City Council’s internal policies and specific action plan through to 2028 (the remaining timeframe of the current City Development Plan) to
Carry out and support more NEW TREE PLANTING in the city
MANAGE public trees
RETAIN existing trees
and further develop the information base and foundations necessary for the creation of a long-range tree strategy for Cork City, including the development of additional ecological corridors and woodlands.
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[ Cork City Council - Tree Strategy ]
Green and Blue Infrastructure (GBI) is the connected network of natural and semi-natural spaces and corridors in the city. POLICY BASIS At the EU level, the EU Biodiversity Strategy (2030) is an ambitious long-term plan to protect nature and reverse the degradation of ecosystems. Amongst other things, the strategy calls for reforestation, tree planting, and the designation of ecological corridors. In addition, Cork City is an ‘EU Mission City,’ being one of 100 European cities selected to participate in a drive to become climate-neutral by 2030. This role includes acting as an experimentation and innovation hub to enable all EU cities to follow suit by 2050. Trees are contributors to climate neutrality. At the local level, the preparation of a Tree Strategy is part of Objective 6.5 of the Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028. The Cork City Tree Strategy is one of 18 city-scale GBI projects targeted for delivery to manage, protect, and enhance the city’s green and blue infrastructure network during the plan period and beyond. Tree planting and development of a Tree Management Programme are also identified as key actions in the Cork City Heritage and Biodiversity Plan 2021- 2026 and in the Cork City Air Quality Strategy 2021-2026. Other relevant national and EU policy are summarised in the appendices of this document.
[ Introduction ]
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CONTENTS Context Chapter 1 Trees in Cities: Their Importance and Challenges
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Chapter 2 Baseline and Trends
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Strategy Chapter 3 Approach and Guiding Principles
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Chapter 4 Public Tree Management
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Chapter 5 Retaining Existing Trees
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Chapter 6 Locations for New Tree Planting
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Chapter 7 Design, Planting, and Aftercare
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Chapter 8 Community Collaboration
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Implementation Chapter 9 Policy Summary, Action Plan, and Monitoring
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Appendix 1: Public Tree Care Policies and Management Standards
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Appendix 2: Guidelines for Community Tree Planting Proposals on Council Owned Land
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Appendix 3: Summary of Legislative and Policy Framework Regarding Trees
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CONTEXT
Chapter 1 Trees in Cities: Their Importance and Challenges
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Chapter 2 Baseline and Trends
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CHAPTER 1 TREES IN CITIES: THEIR IMPORTANCE AND CHALLENGES [1.1] Trees are Fundamental to Cities and to People In the past, many people viewed trees in cities as ‘nice to have’ amenities for largely ornamental purposes. However, we now recognize that trees in cities are fundamental to human well-being and to the functioning of the natural environment on which we all depend. [1.2] Pollution and Flooding Reduction Trees in cities provide a healthier environment for everyone. They absorb carbon dioxide and other gases from the air and produce oxygen. Trees improve air quality by trapping dust particles; levels can be reduced up to 60% on tree-lined streets compared to those without. [1] Trees can act as a sound barrier, absorbing noise in built-up areas. Trees and their root systems absorb water, reducing the potential for flooding. A typical medium-sized deciduous tree can intercept over 10,000L of rainfall every year. [1] Trees also help prevent riverbank and soil erosion and help filter out some water pollution before it reaches rivers and streams. [1.3] Human Health and Well Being Trees have a positive impact on both physical and mental health. Scientific studies have shown that the presence of trees boosts the immune system, reduces stress, improves mood, lowers blood pressure, increases ability to focus and energy levels, accelerates recovery from surgery or illness, and improves sleep. [2] Trees also support better health by creating a positive backdrop for outdoor activities, encouraging people of all ages to walk and cycle within their neighbourhood. Trees are also important in allowing children to interact with nature and develop their motor skills. Trees stimulate the senses and connect us with our surroundings by marking the changes of seasons with flowers, scents, and colourful seasonal transformations. 1. Pollution & Flooding Reduction 4. € € Economic Benefits 5. Climate Adaptation 2. Human Health & Well Being 3. Biodiversity & Natural Ecosystem BENEFITS OF TREES
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[1.4] Heritage and Connection Ireland was once largely covered by temperate rainforest, a unique kind of woodland that only grows in limited areas worldwide. [3] Given this, trees have always had a significant role in Irish mythology and folklore. Trees further play a heritage role by connecting us with past (and future) generations, as many of the trees we enjoy today were planted by those several generations before us. Trees also provide important landmarks and contribute to a unique sense of place and location. [1.5] Biodiversity and Natural Ecosystem Many animals, including mammals, birds, and pollinators have adapted to live alongside humans in our urban landscape. Woodland, hedgerows, and individual trees in places like parks, golf courses, riverbanks, graveyards, and gardens all provide urban habitats, sanctuary, and movement corridors for wildlife in the city. The maintenance of a complete and comprehensive tree and hedgerow network is important to sustain thriving biodiversity, which is in a critical state of emergency. [4] [1.6] Economic Benefits Trees provide attractive spaces for people to live and interact, and this often translates into economic value. Research has shown that the presence of trees has increased property values by 5-18%.[1] The presence of trees also impacts behaviour. Shopping areas with greenery have been shown to attract more customers. Apartment blocks surrounded by mature trees have experienced 52% fewer reported crimes than those without greenery. [1] Trees also have economic benefits in reducing energy and heating costs, due to their shade, wind sheltering, and air temperature regulation effects. [1.7] Climate Adaptation & Mitigation Trees can help mitigate the negative impacts of the Climate Emergency and help sequester carbon. For example, trees can cool the air by several degrees, combating ‘urban heat islands’. Heat islands have been identified in the commercial core areas of Cork City where there is a lack of vegetation, within high-density residential areas houses with hard surfaced yards and within industrial facilities with high levels of paving. [5] These areas all tend to have low tree canopy cover. Trees reduce costs for cooling of adjacent buildings due to their shading effect. Belts of trees can also buffer the effects of extreme weather, providing shelter for homes, businesses, farms, and livestock.
[1.8] Trees Face Challenges While trees are vitally important to cities, they also face many challenges in urban environments that must be addressed as part of this strategy to ensure healthy green infrastructure for the city:
[1.9] Impacts from Other Uses in the Streetscape Trees need space to flourish. A tree is much more than what we see above ground. A healthy tree root system is essential for stabilisation and for absorbing water and nutrients. Below ground, tree roots may be impacted by utility networks or damaged by construction works. Above ground, branches may be subject to vandalism, damaged through carelessness, or excessively pruned due to tree canopy impacts on daylight or access.
[ Trees in Cities: Their Importance and Challenges ]
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[1.10] Competition for Space/ Urban Intensification
The National Planning Framework targets 60% population growth for Cork City by 2040. This will result in an additional 125,000 people living in the city within 20 years. While trees can often be designed into new development, some removal of existing lower value stock and supplemental planting is also likely. [1.11] Perceived Nuisance or Liability Property owners may remove trees or avoid planting them in the first instance due to the perceived potential for liability or property damage, inconvenience associated with leaf fall, the economic costs of maintaining trees, or boundary disputes where trees overhang neighbouring properties. [1.12] Climate Change Trees help mitigate the effects of climate change. However, certain species of trees are also at risk due to predicted increases in extreme weather, including damage caused by stronger and more frequent storm events and by summer heat. These changes may be exacerbated by indirect causes such as more stressful weather conditions and reduced tolerance to pests and diseases. The direct and indirect impacts of climate change may result in a decline in tree health in some species and/or an increased difficulty in establishing young trees. [6] [1.13] Pests and Disease Various insects and diseases can affect trees, reducing both their health and value. This includes diseases introduced by global trade. For example, the fungus that causes ash dieback was imported to Ireland from Asia in the 1990s and poses a serious threat to our native Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) population.[6] As noted above, impacts from pests and diseases are expected to increase due to climate change. [1.14] Other Health Stressors Other factors that negatively impact tree health in urban environments include air pollution from transport, poor- quality soil, and lack of tree management and after-care.
[ Trees in Cities: Their Importance and Challenges ]
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CHAPTER 2 BASELINE AND TRENDS [2.1] Tree Canopy Cover Tree canopy cover is a general indicator of the benefits provided by trees. In 2021 Ireland had a nationwide tree canopy cover of 12%. This is one of the lowest rates of tree cover amongst EU countries, with the EU average being around 35%.[7] Cork City was just above the national average with a tree canopy cover of 13%. 1 Figure 2.1 shows the extent of tree canopy cover within the Cork City administrative area.
Figure 2.1 Tree canopy cover in Cork City (Source: Blue Sky National Tree Map, 2021)
Hedgerows The tree canopy percentage cover figure provided above only includes trees 3 metres or taller. In addition to these trees, the contribution of hedgerows is also significant, particularly the role they play for biodiversity and ecological connectivity. A hedgerow, simply defined, is a row of different types of small trees, shrubs, and plants growing very close together. Hedgerows may be found along field boundaries and in urban settings. In time, some hedgerows may grow into treelines (which are a length of mature trees, typically found along field and property boundaries). Within Cork City’s hinterland—that is, the lands within the Cork City Council boundary that lies outside urbanised areas –there is an estimated 1,400 km of hedgerows).[1] The location and configuration of hedgerows as indicated in the National Land Cover Map is shown in Figure 2.2.
1 There are several methods of estimating tree canopy coverage. Tree data presented in this strategy is derived from the Blue Sky National Tree Map unless otherwise noted. This dataset, available for 2018 and 2021, provides details of the location, height, and canopy/crown extents for every tree 3m and above in height.
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Hinterland Built-up areas
Figure 2.2 Hedgerows in Cork City (Source: National Landcover Map)
[2.2] Comparison to Other EU Cities The most recent data from the European Environment Agency (2018) indicates that Cork City is on the lower end of tree canopy cover when compared to other EU Mission Cities 2 of a similar size.
European City
2018 Canopy Cover %
2023 Population
Tampere, Finland
60%
226,000
Ljubljana, Slovenia
50%
279,000
Košice, Slovakia
44%
239,000
Guimarães, Portugal
43%
163,000
Aachen, Germany
40%
250,000
Rzeszow, Poland
38%
184,000
Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
29%
249,000
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
26%
308,000
Groningen, The Netherlands
17%
238,000
16%
224,000
Cork, Ireland 3
Padova, Italy
12%
209,000
Tree Canopy Cover in Medium-Sized EU Mission Cities, 2018 Source: European Environment Agency
2 As noted in the introduction, Cork City is one of a hundred European ‘Mission Cities’ that are part of an EU initiative to become climate neutral by 2030. 3 The European Environment Agency figure for Cork City was based on the previous (pre-2019) Cork City boundary and varies slightly from other figures cited in this text.
[ Baseline and Trends ]
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[2.3] Tree Composition Data contained in the National Land Cover Map provides a general overview of tree cover in Cork City. Broadleaved trees have the greatest proportion of coverage within the city, followed by hedgerows and treelines. The National Land Cover Map also shows that Cork City has limited coniferous forest. Beyond these general indicators, there is limited information currently available regarding the species, age, and health of trees in Cork City.
17 %
Cork City Council
83 % Private &
Institutional
[2.4] Ownership Cork City Council owns and manages trees located in public areas such as street and local roads, public parks and green spaces, cemeteries, and the margins of public sports grounds. This accounts for an estimated 17% of total tree canopy in the city. The remaining 83% of tree canopy is privately owned or on institutional lands. This includes trees in back gardens, education and business campuses, grounds of religious orders, grounds of medical facilities, private woodlands, private sports grounds, and agricultural land.
Private trees
Street Trees
Woodlands & Hedgerows
Hinterland
Residential Areas
City Centre/Town Centres
Figure 2.3 Components of Cork City’s Tree Network
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[2.5] Tree Distribution by City Area The City Development Plan 2022-2028 breaks down the city into eight sub-city areas and the rural hinterland; each sub-city area is in turn broken down into a total of 44 neighbourhoods (see Fig. 2.4) As described below, trees are not evenly distributed, and each sub-city area has its unique pattern of tree coverage.
City Centre Neighbourhood North East City Suburb North West City Suburb South East City Suburb South West City Suburb Urban Town City Hinterland
Figure 2.4 Cork City is broken down into 8 no. City Areas that are made of 44 no. neighbourhoods in total
Green Infrastructure
Wooded Ridges
Park Trees
Parks and Greenways
City Centre/Town Centres
[ Baseline and Trends ]
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[2.6] Urbanised Areas Compared to Hinterland Though one may expect more trees in the ‘countryside’, the urbanised areas of Cork City currently have slightly higher tree canopy cover than the rural hinterland. The hinterland includes some extensive woodlands and a number of hedgerows along field boundaries; however, most of the land is in agricultural use as open pastures (‘improved grassland’) and cultivated fields.
Cultivated Fields
Managed Grassland
Tree Coverage
Figure 2.5 In Cork City there is slightly higher tree cover in urbanised areas compared to the rural hinterland. (Source: National Tree Map and National Land Cover Map)
Hinterland 12 %
Built up areas 15
%
Tree Canopy Cover 2021
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[2.7] Comparison by City Subarea and Neighbourhood Tree coverage varies significantly by city subarea. As shown in Figure 2.6, urban towns have the highest level of coverage, in fact twice the amount found in the City Centre and North West Suburbs.
Urban Town North West Suburbs 18 % 16 % 14 % 13 % 12 % 9 % 9 % South East Suburbs North East Suburbs South West Suburbs Hinterland City Centre
Figure 2.6 Tree Canopy Cover by City Area, 2021
Figure 2.7 drills down further, showing the percentage of tree canopy cover at the neighbourhood level. Neighbourhoods with the lowest cover are concentrated in the City Centre and the North West suburbs.
10%
18%
19%
15%
13%
25%
8%
10%
19%
10%
14%
8%
5%
5%
15%
8%
11%
15%
1%
21%
6%
12%
6%
10%
19%
16%
15%
16%
15%
14%
10%
8%
12%
13%
11%
12%
10%
13%
11%
16%
24%
19%
18%
23%
14%
Under half of the city average Below average Average/above average Over 20%
Figure 2.7 Percent tree canopy cover by neighbourhood.
[ Baseline and Trends ]
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The lowest tree canopy covers areas in the North West suburbs overlap with RAPID areas. 4 Four out of five of the RAPID areas are also below the city average.
RAPID Area
Percent
Fairhill/ Gurranabraher/ Farranree
Blackpool/The Glen/Mayfield
16%
Blackpool/The Glen/Mayfield
Knocknaheeny/ Hollyhill/Churchfield
Fairhill/Gurranabraher/Farranree 8%
Mahon
8%
Mahon
Togher
8%
Knocknaheeney/Hollyhill/ Churchfield
Togher
5%
[2.8] Tree Character by City Subarea A summary of some significant tree stands and of unique tree features within each City Subarea is set out below.
[2.9] City Centre Neighbourhood (2021 Canopy Cover: 9%) Cork City Centre is built on a series of islands that were reclaimed from marshland. Historically, street trees were not a key feature of the original built environment but were incorporated in the 1800s as part of a broader international movement related to beautification and health. [8] Today, the city centre still has the highest frequency of street trees of any of the city sectors. Fitzgerald’s Park (the primary park in the centre of the city) contains over 350 trees, several of which were planted for the Cork International Exhibition held on the site in 1902. Some other significant tree stands in and around the city centre include those in the Mardyke, Richmond Hill, Saint Patrick’s Hill, Belgrave Place, and Bishop’s Palace. [2.10] North East City Suburbs (2021 Canopy Cover: 14%) The North-East Suburbs are particularly notable for their wooded ridges, including those at Lota, the Glen, and Tivoli. This sector also includes the Glen River Park and a future City Park planned for delivery within the heavily wooded area around Glenamought River Valley. Several significant tree stands are associated with the grounds of former country houses and estates, including Ennismore House, Clifton House and Westboro House. Notably, the North-East has the highest amount of land covered in coniferous trees of all the city sub-areas. [2.11] North West City Suburbs (2021 Canopy Cover: 9%) The North-West Suburbs also have several significant wooded ridges, including those at Shanakiel, Gurranabraher, Farranferris College, Common’s Road, Lover’s Walk, and the Blackpool Valley. Other significant tree stands include those at Sunday’s Well, Distillery Fields, and on institutional/former institutional lands including Our Lady’s Hospital, Saint Mary’s Orthopaedic Hospital, and the Former Good Shepherd Convent. Historically, there were no country houses in this subarea, which has an impact on existing tree cover today. Planning is currently underway for a new regional park in the North-West Suburbs that will include significant tree planting. 4 RAPID stands for ‘Revitalising Areas through Planning, Investment and Development’. RAPID works with communities across Cork City focusing on areas designated as disadvantaged. The focus is on communities, the voluntary sector and agencies working together in partnership for the betterment of the community.
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[2.12] South East City Suburbs (2021 Canopy Cover: 16%) Like the North-East, a number of the mature trees found in the South-East suburbs were associated with the grounds of former country houses. Grounds associated with Old Court now form the publicly accessible Coillte (Garryduff) Recreational site. Plans are also underway for the provision of a new city park at the grounds of Vernon Mount House. Other significant tree stands associated with country houses include Bessboro House, Ballincurrig House, Dundanion House & Castle, Ravenscourt, and current Rochestown Park Hotel, and Ballybrack House (Managala Woods). The South-East suburbs also include unique tree features such as the Beaumont Quarry (a former limestone quarry that now serves as woodland and an urban wildlife sanctuary); the Marina promenade (which was first planted in the 1850’s); the Mahon/Passage West Greenway (portions of which are constructed along the track of a former railway line); several tree corridors along small streams located within the residential neighbourhoods of Donnybrook, Frankfield, Grange and Maryborough. [2.13] South West City Suburbs (2021 Canopy Cover: 13%) The largest grouping of trees in the South West Suburbs are along riverbanks, including the River Lee, the Glasheen River and particularly along the Curraheen River. The Curraheen River serves as both an amenity walk and an ecological corridor. Woodlands along it extend into the grounds of Cork Business and Technology Park on Model Farm Road and Murphy’s Farm recreation area. University College Cork is also located in this subarea. The UCC campus comprises an internationally accredited arboretum hosting around 120 different tree species. Some of the highlights include a pair of c. 150-year-old Giant Redwoods, a Strawberry (Arbutus) Tree, and a ‘champion’ Wing Nut. 5 Two cemeteries are also notable. Some trees in Saint Finbarr’s Cemetery were planted when the cemetery first opened in the 1860s. St. Joseph’s Cemetery is built on the grounds of the former Cork Botanic Gardens, which first opened in 1808. [2.14] Urban Towns (Average Urban Town 2021 Canopy Cover: 18%) Ballincollig had 14% tree canopy cover in 2021. The Ballincollig Regional Park is home to over 3,200 trees, several of which are remnants of older woodland. Other significant tree stands are found along the River Lee to the east of the Regional Park and on the grounds of Parknamore House. Lands adjacent to Oriel House Hotel, which was originally built in 1800 as part of the Administration offices for the Gun Powder Mills, also have significant mature tree coverage. [2.15] In 2021, Glanmire had a tree canopy cover of 25%, the highest of all the city areas/neighbourhoods. There are extensive mature woodlands along the sloping banks of the Glashaboy River, including lands that make up John O’Callaghan Park. Wooded riparian corridors are also found along the Glanmire and Riverstown watercourses. Concentrations of mature trees are also found on the grounds of former country houses, including Ballinglanna House, Glenkeen House, and Poulacurry House.
5 More details are available at www.ucc.ie/en/arboretum Champion trees are defined as individual trees which are exceptional examples of their species because of their enormous size.
[ Baseline and Trends ]
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[2.16] Blarney had tree canopy cover of 18% in 2021. The largest woodlands are found along the River Martin and on the grounds of Blarney Castle Estate. The ancient, native woodlands associated with the castle estate include the ‘Witch’s Yew Tree’, thought to be over 600 years old. Another unique feature of Blarney is the historic circular group of trees known as ‘Ring Wood’, visible on Ordnance Survey maps from the 1830’s. [2.17] Tower had an overall canopy cover of 19% in 2021. There are significant concentrations of trees along the banks of the Shournagh River. The village is also home to historic woodlands visible in 1830’s Ordnance Survey maps, including lands adjacent to the former site of the historic St. Ann’s Hydro. Historic woodland groupings are also located on lands near the national school and the existing treeline along the former Muskerry tram line.
The ‘Witch’s Yew Tree’ at Blarney Castle Estate was a finalist in European Tree of the Year 2020
[2.18] Hinterland (2021 Canopy Cover: 12%) The Hinterland is predominately characterised by open pastures and cultivated fields in agricultural use. While the hinterland includes some commercial coniferous plantations, most woodlands in the area are broadleaved. The 2010 Provisional National Inventory of Ancient and Long-Established Woodland identified groups of older woodlands in the vicinity of Blarney and Tower, near the banks of the Shournagh River. There are further small pockets found along the River Lee. While many trees within the hinterland are significant for biodiversity, these older woodlands are considered particularly important.
The Hinterland also contains an estimated 1,400 km of hedgerows[4], which form boundaries between fields and provide important ecological corridors. Some of these hedgerows, particularly those planted along townland boundaries, may contain the remnants of older woodlands. [9]
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[2.19] Changes in Canopy Cover As of this strategy, Cork City Council has analysed tree canopy coverage and tree location data within the city from 2018 and 2021. Overall, the city experienced a slight canopy loss during this period, dropping from 13.8% in 2018 to 13.4% in 2021. A breakdown of the changes to canopy coverage within city subareas is shown in Figure 2. 8. The amount of tree canopy cover held steady between 2018 and 2021 in the hinterland. However, there was a loss of tree canopy across the city centre, the city suburbs and the urban towns.
Cover 2018
20%
Cover 2021
15%
10%
5%
0%
Urban Town South East City
North East City
South West City
Hinterland City Centre North West City
Figure 2.8 Tree Canopy Cover by City Area, 2018 and 2021
An assessment of net canopy coverage loss was also carried out as part of this strategy. Net tree canopy loss occurs when new canopy growth is not enough to counterbalance the canopy losses that occur due to either the pruning or complete removal of trees. Figure 2.9 shows the estimate of growth compared to loss for the city subareas within the city.
80
Est. Loss from removal
70
Est. Loss from pruning
60
New Growth
50
40
30
20
10
0
Hinterland
Urban towns
South East Suburbs
South West Suburbs
North East Suburbs
City Centre North West Suburbs
Figure 2.9 Canopy Losses and Gains by Area, 2018-2021
Initial data analysis indicates that the single largest category of canopy loss was the cumulative impact of removal and pruning in residential gardens. There are many reasons this might have occurred, including storm damage, tree disease, trees reaching the end of life, addressing impacts on amenity (e.g., loss of light) or liability concerns. Analysis indicates that the second largest area of canopy loss is related to road verges. The third largest area relates to removal associated with land development.
[ Baseline and Trends ]
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[2.20] New Planting From 2021 to Spring 2023 Cork City Council planted an additional +8,000 trees in parks, open spaces, and greenways. Some replacement planting has also occurred to replace trees removed due to infrastructure works. A breakdown of this planting is given in Figure 2.10. While a precise figure is not available, community groups have also planted thousands of trees in this time frame, on both public and private lands.
2,836 South East City Suburb
2,785 North East City Suburb
1,421 South West City Suburb
914 North West City Suburb
174 City Centre Neighbourhood
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City Centre Neighbourhood North East City Suburb North West City Suburb South East City Suburb South West City Suburb Urban Town City Hinterland
Dot size indicates number of trees planted
Figure 2.10 City Council Planting in Parks and Open Spaces
[ Baseline and Trends ]
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STRATEG
Chapter 3 Approach and Guiding Principles
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Chapter 4 Public Tree Management Chapter 5 Retaining Existing Trees
29
33
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GY
Chapter 6 Locations for New Tree Planting Chapter 7 Design, Planting, and Aftercare
39
45
Chapter 8 Community Collaboration
49
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CHAPTER 3 APPROACH AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES
[3.1] Key Findings from Baseline Assessment • Trees are a critical part of city infrastructure that are integral to the development of a healthy and resilient city. They are an asset, which require investment. • Trees in cities face several challenges, including competition for space, poor design and planting practices, and insufficient after care. • The benefits provided by trees is often gauged by the level of tree canopy cover Cork City had 13% tree canopy cover in 2021, a slight loss since 2018. • Privately owned trees are an important part of Cork’s tree canopy cover, as only 17% of Cork City’s tree canopy is managed by Cork City Council. • For human health and wellbeing, some trees need to be integrated into our immediate surroundings, where they are a visible part of our daily lives. In addition, more extensive networks of trees in corridors and woodlands are also needed to provide habitat, ecological services, and/or recreation. • Trees canopy is not evenly distributed, with some neighbourhoods having tree canopy coverage rates that are significantly lower than the citywide average.
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[3.2] Approach With these considerations in mind, Cork City’s broad strategy to increase tree canopy cover in the city is to: • Manage: Provide proactive Tree Care & Management for public trees (Chapter 4) and encourage the same for private trees (Chapter 8) • Retain: Retain existing trees and integrate them into the built environment wherever feasible (Chapter 5) • Plant New Trees: Incorporate more trees into existing built-up areas, especially in areas with the lowest tree canopy cover. Plant new trees as part of new development and develop a strategy for the creation of more woodlands and ecological corridors. (Chapter 6) • Plant for Longevity: Adopt and implement the ‘right tree, right place’ approach to tree planting. (Chapter 7) • Collaborate: Work together as a community to learn about, plant, care for, and manage trees. (Chapter 8) • Monitor: Track and monitor both the changes in tree canopy cover and the implementation of actions set out in this plan. (Chapter 9)
[ Approach and Guiding Principles ]
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CORK CITY TREE STRATEGY 2024-2028
PLANT NEW
• Parks & Open Spaces • Street Trees • Road Verges • Equitable Distribution • Planning Permissions • Other Private Lands • Woodlands • Ecological Corridors
PUBLIC MANAGEMENT • Policies and Standards • Baseline inventory • Strategic Annual Programmes • Balanced Risk Approach • Last Resort Removal • Address pests and disease
PLANT WELL • Right Tree, Right Place Design • Species Mix • Provenance • Soil • Best Practice Techniques • Aftercare
RETAIN
COLLABORATE
• Integrate into new development • Protect during site and utility works • Private Tree Stewardship • Regulatory protection
• Encourage private planting • Educate • Facilitate • Communicate
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[3.3] Building Toward a Long-Term Strategy This document constitutes Cork City’s first Tree Strategy. Cork City Council intends to develop a high-level, long-term (e.g., 50-year) tree strategy with specific canopy cover targets. However, a comprehensive strategy will take time to build. Firstly, further investigation is required, such as gathering more base data about the current tree composition (Chapter 4, Action 3). In addition, detailed sub-strategies must be developed for different planting types (Chapter 6, Action 18 (street trees) and Action 21 (woodlands) and funding streams identified for some actions. Finally, the Tree Strategy is one component of the city’s overarching Green and Blue Infrastructure (GBI) Strategy. As part of a holistic, ecosystem approach, the Tree Strategy will evolve and become further refined as other aspects of the GBI Strategy evolve (for example, Chapter 6, Action 22 related to habitat mapping). For the same reasons, this first strategy is action-focused and contains no quantified canopy targets, as setting targets without having base data and developed sub-strategies would be arbitrary. As described in the chapters to follow, further information on the profile of existing trees and more specific plans for different types of planting will allow, in time, for the setting of ambitious planting and canopy cover targets for Cork City that are grounded in comprehensive data. Actions set out in this strategy will be completed over the next few years, and an updated Tree Strategy with a long- term horizon will be built on the foundation provided by this initial tree strategy.
ACTION 1. Develop a long-range tree strategy with quantified canopy cover targets and incorporate this strategy into the 2029 Development Plan.
ACTION 2. Seek to identify budget sources and to increase budgets for tree planting, for land acquisition for tree planting, and for the maintenance of public tree stock. 28 [ Approach and Guiding Principles ]
CHAPTER 4 PUBLIC TREE MANAGEMENT While planting new trees is often the first thing that comes to mind in respect of a tree strategy, ensuring that existing trees are well maintained and healthy is a foundational first step.
[4.1] Overview of Public Management Strategy Cork City Council will:
• Follow agreed public tree management policies and standards • Develop a baseline inventory of publicly managed trees • Establish Strategic Annual Tree Works and Planting Programmes • Take a balanced and proportionate approach to risk management in relation to trees • Remove trees only in specific circumstances • Identify and address the impacts of pests and disease [4.2] Public Arboricultural Management Standards Arboricultural works to public-owned trees are the responsibility of multiple directorates and sections within Cork City Council. To provide consistency, efficiency, and professionalism of tree management, all tree management of Cork City Council-owned trees will be carried out in accordance with Cork City Council Public Tree Care Policies and Management Standards, as set out in Appendix 1 of this Strategy.
INTERNAL POLICY 1: Any work to Cork City Council owned trees will be carried out in accordance with details set out in Cork City Council Public Tree Care Policies and Management Standards.
[4.3] Tree Inventory and Data Tracking System Cork City Council currently has limited records in relation to City Council-owned trees. Similar to human medical records, having details of a tree’s species, health, age, and other factors can help systemically plan for trees’ preventative and proactive care. Information such as species and age diversity also provide strategic guidance for new tree planting. Developing a tree inventory is a foundational step towards a Strategic Tree Works and Planting Programme.
ACTION 3. Procure a GIS-based tree management system and develop a baseline inventory of Cork City Council-owned trees.
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[ Cork City Council - Tree Strategy ]
[4.4] Strategic Tree Works Programme Developing a tree inventory will facilitate a strategically planned annual Tree Care Works Programme. A strategic Works Programme is beneficial for human safety, for trees, and for overall effectiveness. For people, trees that may pose greater hazards to public health can be addressed as a priority. For trees, the early identification of defects/issues can also prevent a situation in which a tree would require removal. This reduces cost, visual impacts from tree loss, and loss of canopy cover. The public can also log requests for Cork City Council to carry out works to Cork City Council trees through the City Council Customer Service Request System. Any requests for tree works will be assessed and in accordance with policies set out in the City Council Public Tree Care Management Standards.
INTERNAL POLICY 2: Cork City Council tree work will be prioritised and carried out according to identified hazard or risk, as established in the Cork City Council Public Tree Care Management Standards.
ACTION 4. Establish a strategic Annual Tree Works Programme, based on a ‘Work Priority’ and coded re-inspection system.
Cork City Council will establish a targeted Strategic Annual Tree Planning Tree Planting Programme that sets out all tree planting that is planned for the coming year, to ensure that tree planting is as efficient and beneficial as possible.
ACTION 5. Establish a programme of targeted Strategic Annual Tree Planting.
Increased tree planting, scheduling of works and ongoing general maintenance will inevitably lead to an increased workload in respect to tree management that will need to be taken into account in budgets and staff resources.
ACTION 6 . Incorporate the impacts of increased public tree planting into maintenance budgets.
ACTION 7. Continue up-skilling Cork City Council arboricultural staff, including in tree inspections and tree work specifications.
[4.5] Tree Risk Management It is both normal and natural for trees to lose branches or to fall, and Cork City Council has a duty of care to ensure that members of the public and staff are not put at risk due to any failure to take reasonable precautions to ensure safety. However, it is important to remember that the actual risk to human safety from trees is very low. In fact, one UK study concluded that the risk of death caused by a tree was around 1 in 10 million. For context, the same study estimated the risk of death from road traffic accidents at 1 in 16,800. [10] Non-fatal injuries from trees were also found to be low. In the study, trees accounted for 55 Accident & Emergency cases per year. Wheelie bins posed more of a risk, accounting for 2,200 A & E cases.
[ Public Tree Management ]
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Cork City Council’s management of trees will be balanced and proportionate to the actual risks from trees, and in balancing tree risks and benefits Cork City Council will: • Manage the risk of significant injury or property damage to levels that are as low as reasonably practicable.
• Operate a system of proactive and reactive tree inspections.
•
Maintain a detailed record of trees and inspections.
• Ensure that suitably qualified and competent arborists carry out tree inspections and any subsequent tree works in compliance with industry best practice.
• Ensure that any tree works are carried out within the appropriate time frame.
INTERNAL POLICY 3: Cork City Council’s management of trees will be balanced and proportionate to the actual risks from trees, and in balancing tree risks and benefits.
ACTION 8. Develop a Tree Safety Management Policy to ensure public trees are inspected and managed in accordance with best practice.
[4.6] Public Tree Removal Cork City Council has a duty to manage its tree population for the benefit of the wider community and in accordance with good arboriculture practices. Tree removal will be a last resort option after all alternative solutions have been explored in accordance with the policy set out below. INTERNAL POLICY 4: Public trees will only be removed as a last resort option after all alternative solutions have been explored and will only be considered in the following circumstances, based on the written recommendation of a suitably qualified and experienced arborist: • Safety Hazard: A tree is dead/dying and/or is considered hazardous due to its poor structural and/or physiological condition and leaving deadwood in place for biodiversity purposes is not a feasible option with regard to surrounding uses. • Significantly Diseased: A tree is significantly diseased and may infect other tree stock or create a safety hazard. (It is noted that many trees show some level of disease, and some trees may live a considerable time with some signs of disease without causing harm.) • Poorly Established: tree is poorly established and is being removed to facilitate planting of a replacement tree that will have potential to have a long-term positive impact in terms of longevity and ecosystem service value. (Given the time frame it takes a tree to reach maturity, delaying the removal process can negatively impact on the city’s overall canopy cover.) • Causing Structural Damage: Instances where a tree that has been proven to be causing significant structural damage that cannot be resolved through reasonable alternative solutions. • Unavoidable Loss to Facilitate Significant Development: Removal of a tree where it has been demonstrated through the planning process that the tree cannot be integrated into the design of significant building/infrastructural works, cannot reasonably be relocated, and whose ecological, health, cultural, and monetary value is assessed as having a relatively lower overall value than the works themselves.
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[ Cork City Council - Tree Strategy ]
Further details related to tree removal in respect of development or infrastructure works are addressed in Chapter 5, and more details on ‘deadwood’ are addressed in Appendix 1.
[4.7] Pests and Disease Identifying and addressing the current—and potential—pests and diseases impacting trees is also a key part of tree management. As one example, several of the native woodland habitats within Cork are ash woodlands, and ’ash dieback,’ a disease caused by a fungal pathogen, will likely have a significant impact on in Cork City in coming years. A plan for managing the impact of ash dieback is required.
ACTION 9. Prepare a plan for dealing with impact of Ash dieback.
[ Public Tree Management ]
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CHAPTER 5 RETAINING EXISTING TREES
Retaining existing trees where possible is significant for tree canopy cover, as studies indicate that existing, healthy, mature trees provide twelve times or more benefits than newly planted trees. [11]
[5.1] Overview of Retention Strategy To retain and protect existing trees, Cork City Council will:
• Integrate existing trees into new development wherever possible.
• Protect existing trees during site works, including works on underground and overhead utilities.
• Encourage stewardship of private trees. (See Chapter 8, Collaboration)
•
Use regulatory protection where necessary.
[5.2] Integrate Trees into New Development The strong growth of the city requires new infrastructure and large residential developments, which must be accommodated as much as possible within the existing footprint of the city and new expansion areas. This will require some tree removal. However, trees are also a critical form of city infrastructure, the significant benefits and economic value of which are outlined in Chapter 1. Given this, Cork City Council is committed to ensuring that trees are given adequate consideration at all stages of the private and public development process, from the feasibility stage to post-completion management. The approach set out below provides further details to help achieve objectives for tree protection as set out in the Cork City. Current objectives regarding tree retention in the Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028 are summarised in Figure 5.1.
In respect of tree retention and land development, the Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028 includes the following retention objectives:
• A presumption against development for some woodlands and significant groups of trees with the zoning objective ‘Landscape Preservation Zone (ZO 17)’. • An objective to support the retention of existing trees and the planting of new trees as part of new developments (Objective 6.5d) and • An objective to discourage development proposals necessitating the removal of extensive amounts of trees or hedgerows (Objective 6.9). The text of the plan further establishes that mature trees and hedgerows shall be identified at the initial stages of the planning process and used to guide site layout and design (Para. 11.212) and that all development proposals are expected to avoid adverse impacts on mature trees (Para 11.224).
Figure 5.1 Summary of Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028 Objectives for Tree Retention
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[ Cork City Council - Tree Strategy ]
[5.3] Consideration at Start of Design Process The Cork City Development Plan (Para. 11.224) establishes that mature trees and hedgerows shall be identified at the initial stages of the planning process and used to guide site layout. To make these considerations consistent and efficient in the development process, Cork City Council will require Tree Surveys and subsequent assessment of existing trees to be prepared in accordance with British Standard 5837: 2012 ‘Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction– Recommendations’ as prepared by a suitably qualified and competent arborist. This will apply both to City Council projects and in respect of the assessment of planning applications. Guidance Notes to aid implementation will also be developed. INTERNAL POLICY 5: Cork City Council will consider trees at the initial stages of design by following Tree Survey and assessment standards set out in British Standard 5837: 2012 ‘Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction– Recommendations’ (or any subsequent updates) in respect of the design of Part 8 6 development proposals, as prepared by a suitably qualified and competent arborist. The same standard will also be incorporated into the assessment of private development proposals through the Development Management process.
ACTION 10. Develop a guidance note related to tree and hedgerow surveys and the integration of trees and hedgerows into development proposals.
[5.4] Mitigation for Unavoidable Removal In cases where the removal of trees is permitted to facilitate necessary building/construction works, replacement planting may need to occur offsite. To ensure effective replacement planting, details of a Tree Replacement Standard will be prepared.
INTERNAL POLICY 6: Where trees are removed by Cork City Council replacement trees will be planted to mitigate the ecosystem service value that has been lost.
ACTION 11. Develop a Tree Replacement standard to guide mitigation planting, including a tree valuation method for compensatory / replacement planting such as Cavat or iTree.
ACTION 12. Develop mitigation guidance in respect of the development management process.
[5.5] Protection of Trees During Construction Works Protection of existing trees and hedgerows during the construction process is a crucial part of the development process; a tree that has taken many decades to reach maturity can be damaged irreparably in a few minutes through poor construction practice. Section 11.124 of the Cork City Development Plan establishes that a bond or cash lodgement may be required to ensure the protection of trees until a development has been satisfactorily completed. To ensure adequate tree protection during construction works, tree protection methods outlined in BS 5837:2012 will be required; guidance notes to aid implementation will also be developed.
6 ‘Part 8’ is a development carried out by the Local Authority (Cork City Council). This is a reference to Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended) which sets out the procedure for carrying out such developments.
[ Retaining Existing Trees ]
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