Tree strategy and policy guidance

Substantial research supports the following benefits that trees bring to urban areas.

Environmental:

• Produce oxygen for us to breath.        
• Sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, locking away the harmful 'greenhouse' gas.         
• Reduce localised temperature extremes (the Urban Heat Island).         
• Provide shade, reducing the harmful effects of ultra violet radiation and making streets and buildings cooler in summer.         
• Help to improve air quality by reducing dust and particulates.
• Improve environmental performance of buildings.
• Help to reduce traffic noise, absorbing and deflecting sound.
• Help to reduce local wind speeds.
• Increase biodiversity and provide food and shelter for wildlife.
• Assist in land remediation.
• Reduce the effects of flash flooding by rainfall interception.

Social:

• Improve the quality and perception of the urban environment.
• Create community focal points and landmark links.
• Create sense of place and local identity.
• Benefit communities socially be instilling higher public esteem and pride for an area.
• Positive impact on both physical and mental health and well being.
• Positive impact on crime reduction.
• Improve health in the urban population.

Economic:

• Have the potential to increase residential and commercial property values by between 7% to 15%.         
• Improve the environmental performance of buildings and therefore the economic performance through reducing heating and cooling costs.         
• Can provide mature landscapes that confer a premium for development sites.         
• Assist the appreciation of property values proportionate to their scale as they grow larger.        
• Creating a positive perception for prospective purchasers of property.
• Enhance the prospects of securing planning permission.
• Improve health in the urban population, thus reducing healthcare costs.
• Provide a potential long term renewable energy resource.