The Council’s Urban Forestry Strategy 2019-2029 was developed and approved to promote, sustain and enhance the urban forest within Solihull. It recognises the contribution trees make towards the character, appearance and economy for all who live, work and visit Solihull. It also sets out the wider context around the value of trees, and the Urban Forest as an integral part of modern-day communities physical and environmental infrastructure.
A report ‘Forestry Services and Planting our Future Update’ is before Solihull’s Stronger Communities and Neighbourhood Scrutiny Board on Wednesday 10 September. Scrutiny is asked to consider and comment on the strategy.
Underpinning the report is the Urban Forestry Strategy 2019/2029, which is shown below:
The Strategy assists the Council in responding to pressures placed on its tree stock, as the urban infrastructure expands. It recognises the role that trees play in helping to achieve net zero by 2041 through isolating and storing carbon and providing essential ecosystem services for nature, people and the economy. It provides a strong commitment from the Council for the preservation and development of a healthy tree stock throughout the Borough.
The Urban Forestry Strategy requires the Council to have a system for effective tree management and a suitable plan for tree planting. The Council is legally required under statutory duty, to maintain a robust tree management system and to take reasonable measures to ensure its tree stock remains safe and healthy.
The Council’s tree stock currently consists of approximately 43,000 Park trees, 22,000 Highway trees, 9,000 Housing trees and 55 Hectares of woodland. With such a significant quantity of trees to manage, the Council needs to ensure a robust process of tree management is in place, including monitoring, inspecting, maintaining and recording of Council trees.
The Forestry Service use the VALID (Valid, Anatomy, Load, Identity, Defect) Risk/Benefit Management system, Through the VALID system, the Council manage trees based on the level of risk; essentially high-risk trees get more frequent checks, lower risk trees are inspected less often. This approach also ensures that resources for tree management are used proportionately and efficiently. The Council’s trees are divided into two zones based on public use and tree size, with the understanding that areas where high public use coincides with large trees, are likely to present greater risk.
These two zones are as follows:
• High public use and large tree areas are referred to within the VALID system as high areas of confluence and relate to areas such as busy roads, parks, 2 schools, hospitals, stations, and town centres.
• Lower use areas, such as lower-use residential streets, open spaces, natural woodlands. High public use and large tree areas are prioritised for more intensive management. Lower use areas are still subject to management but are likely to receive a lower level of monitoring and assessment.
Under the VALID system, tree inspections are structured around two inspection levels: Passive Assessment and Active Assessment. This approach is designed to be reasonable, proportionate, and practicable, and aligns with best-practice risk principles.
Link to the report before scrutiny: https://democracy.solihull.gov.uk/documents/s127760/Forestry%20Services%20Scrutiny%20report%2010th%20Sept%202025%20FINAL.pdf
Five Year Progress report: https://democracy.solihull.gov.uk/documents/s127761/Appendix%20A%20-%20POF_5_Year_Progress_Update_2020_2025.pdf
Ken Hawkins 