WAYS TO MAKE MIDDLESBROUGH GREENER UNVEILED

IMMEDIATE action is being taken in Middlesbrough to help tackle climate change and make the town a leader on environmental issues within 12 months.

The town was named a "Tree City of the World" earlier this year for its commitment to urban forestry and now a 14-point plan is set to be approved by Middlesbrough Council to further tackle the issue head-on.

Proposals include:

• Sewing 30,000m2 of wild flowers;
• Planting 15,000 trees;
• Installation of bee hives across Middlesbrough with a ‘Buzz in Boro' guide;
• Purchase electric vehicles to replace fossil fuelled vehicles;
• Designation of Lower Ormesby Beck as a nature reserve; and
• Extra work to improve recycling rates.

Also in the plan is work to roll out climate change training to all council employees, work with business to reduce commercial waste and increase recycling and methods to measure and monitor the town's carbon output.

The Green Strategy action plan papers will go to the council's Executive for approval later this week.

Also included in the report are ideas for years two and three of the strategy which include the possibilities of an eco-festival for the town, develop community growing plots, develop clean air zones, establish a food re-distribution hub, development of new nature reserves in the town and plans for extra electric car charging points and additional electric vehicles in the council's fleet.

Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston said: "This might be one of the most important things we ever do in Middlesbrough.

"I think these proposals are really exciting for the town, tackling massive issues like climate changing and promoting bio-diversity by doing really popular things like creating new nature reserves, planting thousands and thousands of trees and wildflowers.

"Middlesbrough can lead the way on environmental issues and be an amazing place to live and work at the same time."

Previously a consultation was carried out on the Green Strategy proposals. The overwhelming feedback from the consultation process was that the majority of respondents (82%) agreed that Middlesbrough should be a lead authority on Green issues, which the Green Strategy will achieve.

In being named a "Tree City of the Year" in March Middlesbroughnow joins a network of like-minded cities which recognise the importance of trees in building healthy, resilient and happy cities.

The awardaims to create more green spaces in urban areas by recognising the cities that do it well.

The initiative was founded by The Arbor Day Foundation andthe Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to recognise cities around the globe that have committed to growing and maintaining their urban forest.

ENDS

Press Notice 6506. 25/05/21

Issued by Andrew Pain, Senior Communications Officer on 01642 729503.

www.middlesbrough.gov.uk

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