Published 5/11/2026 By William Turtle-Clark

Herefordshire Council has laid the groundwork to protect and expand tree coverage across the county, but needs community and organization partners to make it a reality, the authority’s environment chief has urged.

Speaking at a seminar hosted by the Herefordshire Tree Forum at Hereford Town Hall, Cabinet Member for Environment and Deputy Leader Councillor Elissa Swinglehurst called on landowners, farmers, NGOs, and public bodies to help deliver on the council's ecological goals.

The Herefordshire Tree, Hedgerow and Woodland Strategy (H-THAWS), signed off earlier this year, sets a target to increase average countywide tree cover to 20 per cent by 2041. However, Councillor Swinglehurst noted that meeting the "stretch target" of 30 per cent urban canopy cover will prove considerably tougher. Urban coverage in Hereford currently stands at just 13.6 per cent, with four wards falling below 10 per cent, while Leominster records 12.7 per cent.

Alongside the strategy, the council faces immediate management challenges. Principal Tree Officer Brendan Tuer confirmed that a roadside survey identified over 2,000 ash trees showing signs of ash dieback. However, he noted that the eventual mortality rate is now expected to be less severe than initially feared, and funding has been secured to plant around 400 new trees across the county this winter.

Parish and town councils looking to boost local canopy cover have until November 27 to apply for free trees, guards, and planting supplies through the council’s Local Nature Recovery initiative.