Findings and Recommendations

Findings

• Ecosystem services provided by Derby’s trees are worth £3.3 million per year.
• There are around 255,000 trees in Derby, with at least 61 different species.
• The most common species are Leyland cypress (Cupressus x leylandii), Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus), and Silver birch (Betula pendula).
• Derby’s urban forest has good species richness, diversity, and size class distribution compared to several other UK cities. In particular, Derby has a lot of large trees.
• Most of Derby’s trees are found on private land uses such as residential areas. This means ecosystem services are centred on private land.
• The total CAVAT (amenity) value of all of Derby’s trees is estimated to be over £1 billion.

Recommendations

• Enhance and review Tree Preservation Orders, and engage residents in stewardship, to reduce the risk of tree removals from private land.
• Combine spatial and socio-economic data to identify opportunities to expand canopy cover in the areas of greatest need.
• Plant a mix of native and non-native species and follow guidance on provenance, pests and disease, and drought tolerance.
• Plant large-stature trees and protect existing trees that have reached a large size in maturity.