Trees could be planted for city's newborn babies

Image source, Simon Dedman/成人快手

Image caption, Members of Southend City Council are calling for more trees to be planted in the city
  • Author, Christine Sexton
  • Role, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Planting a new tree for every baby born could have a positive impact on a seaside city, councillors have said.

Southend City Council Conservative members Dan Nelson and Alan Dear are behind a call to plant a new sapling for every childbirth registered in the Essex city.

Parents would be told where their child's tree had been planted.

The motion is set to be discussed at Thursday's full council meeting, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The idea has been welcomed by Richard Longstaff, Green Party member for the Leigh ward.

"It will really make people feel connected to the city. It鈥檚 a wonderful idea," he said.

鈥淲e need to plant thousands of trees and we need to know the location of where we can plant trees, and that鈥檚 the big hurdle.

鈥淲e鈥檙e always being told, 鈥楴o, you can鈥檛 just plant a tree anywhere鈥. Well, we know that, but give us the locations to plant.鈥

The motion follows criticism that the council has chopped trees down.

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