Surrey County Council has committed to facilitate the planting of 1.2 million trees – one for every Surrey resident – by 2030. Saturday (5 October) saw the first tree planted at the Surrey Hills Wood Fair in Cranleigh. The tree was planted by Tony Samuels, Chairman of SCC, and Tim Oliver, Leader of SCC.

The tree has been donated by Mary Foryszewski, the Mayor of Waverley. The county council, in partnership with Tilhill Forestry, also gave families who attended the wood fair a free tree to plant when they got home.

Mike Goodman, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste, explains how this will help to tackle climate change. By the time it reaches 40 years of age a tree will have absorbed one ton of CO2.

Surrey County Council declared a Climate Change Emergency in July 2019 and committed to reach zero carbon by 2050 at the latest. This target will be achieved by SCC, boroughs and districts with support from partners and stakeholders.