Clyde Climate Forest takes root across West Dunbartonshire

This spring, more than 60 volunteers dug in to plant over 600 trees in Whitecrook, Clydebank to create a new native woodland as part of the wider Clyde Climate Forest initiative.

Local schools, community groups and corporate volunteers worked together with staff from environmental charity Green Action Trust, who are a Clyde Climate Forest delivery partner, to help plant the trees near West Street.

Councillor Martin Rooney and Councillor Clare Steel join CCF Director Chris Stark and local school kids to plant trees in Whitecrook, Clydebank.

Tree Planting Commitment

Additional planting of 70 large standard trees will take place later this spring throughout Whitecrook to support the Clyde Climate Forest’s commitment to plant up to 18 million trees by 2032.

West Dunbartonshire Council is one of eight local authorities to sign up to the Clyde Climate Forest Concordat agreement committing to connect up existing woodlands, plant new forests and target urban tree plantings in areas vulnerable to climate impacts.

The Clyde Climate Forest (CCF) was launched in June 2021 and since then the project has seen over 2 million trees planted in both urban and rural areas.

The council have committed to supporting delivery of the Clyde Climate Forest and to embed CCF targets into their own plans and policies, helping toward the authorities own Net Zero ambitions.

Chris Stark, Director of Clyde Climate Forest, said “I am delighted that West Dunbartonshire Council have committed to our tree planting program by signing the CCF Concordat agreement. Tree planting is crucial if we are to tackle both the climate and biodiversity emergencies.”

“Community woodlands and trees bring many benefits to urban neighbourhoods, they help soak up excess rainwater in heavy downpours, create cooling effects in heatwaves, and provide vital carbon storage and wildlife habitat.”

“We plan to work with multiple local communities over the next few years with an aim to plant up to 1000 trees in each of our target neighbourhoods as part of our ‘1000 Trees Campaign’.

Councillor Martin Rooney, West Dunbartonshire Council Leader, said: “West Dunbartonshire is proud to be part of this important initiative.

“It was a pleasure to work alongside a range of people from throughout the community, planting trees which will bring huge benefits for our residents and the environment as well as encouraging biodiversity across the area for future generations.”

Also in attendance at the Whitecrook planting event was Councillor Clare Steel, West Dunbartonshire Council Education Convenor, and Ross Nimmo, Head of Place for Glasgow City Region.

The wider Clyde Climate Forest initiative is also supported by Scottish Forestry, the Woodland Trust, Trees for Cities, Green Action Trust, The Conservation Volunteers, the GCV Green Network and Glasgow City Region.