Somerset Council faces growing calls to increase tree planting efforts after dozens of mature trees were removed near the Edithmead roundabout in Highbridge, close to junction 22 of the M5. The area recently underwent preparatory work ahead of a £6.4 million project aimed at improving journey times between the M5 motorway and Bristol Airport via the A38.
Local resident Graham Godwin-Pearson raised concerns at the council’s executive committee meeting in Taunton on June 3, highlighting that National Highways — the agency responsible for the M5 — had cut down trees without implementing any “succession planting” to replace them.
“I’ve watched as dozens of mature trees have been felled around Edithmead over recent weeks with no apparent plans to replant,” Mr. Godwin-Pearson said. “Our local tree cover lags far behind the national average. How many hectares of trees have actually been planted in and around Somerset Council projects since May 2023?”
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Mr. Godwin-Pearson, who previously served as a Conservative councillor for the Axevale ward between 2019 and 2023, also referenced his earlier campaign to create a public woodland near Cheddar — a scheme ultimately shelved just before the district council’s dissolution in April 2023.
In response, Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, the portfolio holder for communities, environment, and climate change, provided an update on tree-planting progress. “Since January, Somerset Council has been directly and indirectly involved in planting 243 hectares of wood pasture, 16 hectares of woodland, 750 urban trees, and four kilometres of new hedgerows,” she said. “Additionally, 89 school-grown tree projects have been completed.”
The council’s tree strategy, launched in September 2023, commits to increasing tree coverage in Somerset from the current eight percent to 13 percent by 2033. Achieving this goal requires planting approximately 240 hectares of new woodland annually.
Council leader Bill Revans highlighted ongoing efforts, mentioning Wilstock and Stockmoor Country Park in Bridgwater as examples of successful projects. Addressing the recent tree removals at Edithmead, he acknowledged, “I assume National Highways were responsible for taking those trees out. I will ensure they’re reminded about the importance of planting replacements promptly.”
Mr. Godwin-Pearson urged the council to accelerate tree planting to meet climate and biodiversity goals, emphasizing that newly planted woodlands help absorb carbon, support wildlife habitats, reduce flood risks, and enhance natural landscapes.
“If Somerset is to meet its net zero target by 2030, along with its tree coverage ambitions, the council must close the gap between promises and delivery,” he said. “Planting more trees is crucial not only for the environment but for the long-term wellbeing of our communities.”