The authority is one of eight across Glasgow City Region aiming 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 1.2 million trees planted in both urban and rural areas.

Last week, children from High Blantyre Primary School worked with staff from environmental charity Trees for Cities, who are a Clyde Climate Forest delivery partner, to help plant more than 1000 trees in the Springwell area of Blantyre.  Local residents together with volunteers from Bonnie Blantyre and the Ahmaddiya Muslim Women’s Association also dug in to get the trees in the ground.

Other projects are likely to spring up across the region in the near future as the Council work with the CCF project to help them achieve their goal across the wider Glasgow City Region.

Councillor Joe Fagan, Leader of South Lanarkshire Council, said: “We are committed to supporting delivery of the Clyde Climate Forest and to embed CCF targets into our own plans and policies, helping toward our own Net Zero ambitions.

“It was fantastic to see the young people from High Blantyre Primary school working with the local community to plant these trees.

“There will be many similar projects across South Lanarkshire in the coming years, and it is of course great news for the local environment, with this sort of project helping countless species as well as improving air quality.”

Max Hislop, Director of Clyde Climate Forest, said “I am delighted that South Lanarkshire Council have committed to our tree planting program by signing our 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 across 2023 with an aim to plant up to 1000 trees in each of our target neighbourhoods as part of our ‘1000 Trees’ Campaign.”

The Clyde Climate Forest is delivering part of the Glasgow & Clyde Valley Green Network, with support from Green Action Trust, TCV, Glasgow City Region, Trees for Cities, Scottish Forestry and Woodland Trust Scotland.

More information can be found on the Clyde Climate Forest website.