Green and blue infrastructure

What we want to achieve

To invest in our existing natural environment, focusing on projects that store carbon, increase climate change resilience, improve air quality, and increase the presence of wildlife and plants.

How we will do this

We have set out a range of actions for how Medway can respond to the climate emergency. These range from actions that the council will take to lead by example, to those that will support the community to act.

 

tree iconDevelop a tree strategy and action plan, setting clear actions and targets.

single tree iconIncrease the numbers of trees in Medway to support climate resilience, making sure there are opportunities for the community to get involved.

plant iconIncrease the number of naturalised verges on council owned land by 10 sites during 2022 to 2023.

carbon sinks iconIdentity habitat areas within Medway for protection as carbon sinks and wildlife habitats. This should include both terrestrial and marine habitats.

calculator iconWork in partnership to develop a common method for calculating the amount of carbon being offset by nature-based solutions, and apply a carbon calculator equation to all Medway owned land.

document iconSecure high quality green spaces for new developments within the new Local Plan.

landscape iconEnsure the Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) programme and other regeneration programmes include the creation of green open spaces providing benefits to both local community and wildlife.

Our progress so far

  • We ran a social media campaign to encourage Medway residents to help water a young tree during the summer months. Find out more about the Water a Tree Scheme and see the Water a Tree social media campaign.
  • Medway Council recognises the value of peat reserves to biodiversity and carbon storage. The council and its suppliers avoids purchasing plants grown in peat and does not use peat in any of its horticultural work.
  • Trained volunteers to use the I-Tree Canopy Survey. The 20,000 photos they took helped to calculate that Medway’s canopy cover is 16.5%. The time provided by the volunteers has provided new insight into the tree resource of Medway and forms a cornerstone of the evidence for the emerging tree strategy.
  • We consulted with Plantlife and the Kent Wildlife Trust to find out the best approach for reviewing the management of our grass verges.
  • 10,742 small trees were planted with funding from the Urban Tree Challenge Fund (one to two years old) across ten sites in Medway. The planting was completed in February and March 2021. Bids have been submitted to the Forestry Commission Local Authority Treescapes Fund (LATF) and Urban Tree Challenge Fund (UTCF) for funding to support tree planting in 2022 to 2023 and 2023 to 2024.
  • Medway Tree Fund launched at the end of 2020. Anyone living, visiting, or working in Medway can donate towards the next generation of trees in Medway. You can donate to the Medway Tree Fund online.
  • The main Cumulative Ecological Impact Assessment for the Strategic Environmental Management Scheme (CEIA) is now a completed draft report. An extension of the report concentrating on the north of the A228, around Lodge Hill and Chattenden Woods SSSI (site of special scientific interest), is currently underway and will be complete in early 2023. 
  • Planning permission for Cockham Community Parkland was granted in July 2021.
  • A community food growing space has been secured at Fort Amherst and volunteers helped to improve the plot in preparation for use. Families and groups have started to engage with the space through classes delivered by Medway Adult Education. Other gardening projects are underway in collaboration with Dementia Friends Group at Eastgate House.
  • In 2020 to 2021, bulbs were planted at over 50 locations on main roads into Medway. 450 whips were supplied and planted by a community group on council land with support from the Capstone Park Rangers and 15 whips planted by The Howard School at Riverside Country Park. 60 standards were planted on council land.
  • Review of allotment holding process.
  • Tree strategy drafted and will be published here when available.
  • Green and blue infrastructure plan published in 2021.

Read all the actions

To read all the actions in our plan:

Combat climate change

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