Trees and woodlands provide many and varied benefits to society and have a vital role to play in the sustainability of our urban and rural areas.
Trees in our area
Tree canopy cover across Bath and North East Somerset is estimated at 16%, of which around half (2,892 hectares) is woodland. Ancient woodlands, which are the most valuable woodlands for nature due to their rich and complex ecology, comprise 22% (642 hectares) of our woodland.
Most trees within Bath and North East Somerset are native broadleaf species. The most common species is ash.
The following tree species are also widely distributed in our area:
- Common hawthorn
- Sycamore
- Beech
- English oak
- English elm
- Hazel
Woodland cover is mostly on steep slopes and valley sides and can also be found lining the banks of our watercourses and transport routes. We also benefit from hedgerows and field trees, including veteran and ancient trees, and community orchards. In and around our towns and cities, parks and green spaces also contribute to tree cover and include specimen trees.
Find local woodlands
You can find the location of local woodlands, including those that we manage, on the Woodland Trust’s website. The Parks & Greenspaces Team manage approximately 35,000 trees, as well as over 100 hectares of woodland.
Find more information
To find out more about our tree management policy, tree conservation areas and how you can report a problem with a tree, visit our Tree Management page. Planning policy includes protection and requirements for new tree planting. Visit our Trees and Planning page for more information.