HALF a million more trees are scheduled to be planted across Swindon over the next five years.

Swindon Borough Council has set the target for the expansion of the Great Western Community Forest and will start by planting 18 hectares of new woodland – about 20,000 trees – over the next five months.

It has benefitted from a share of the government’s £12m Nature for Climate fund – and the community forest is one of 10 across the country to be taking part in a tree-planting programme with the explicit intent of offsetting carbon emissions.

Cabinet member for climate change Keith Williams said: “This is brilliant news for Swindon and the surrounding area and is a real boost to our carbon reduction strategy.

“We are developing planting schemes in Highworth, north central Swindon and on land south of the M4 as well as schemes just outside Swindon in the Vale of the White Horse District.

“We will be working with our local communities and partner organisations to develop and deliver the schemes, which will bring so many benefits to people’s health and wellbeing.”

He added that many more trees were to follow this winter’s planting: “Our ambition is to plant 350 hectares of woodland, which is three times the size of Lydiard Park so we are looking at planting roughly half a million trees.

“This will help us reach our target of ensuring we have 30 per cent of tree cover across the Great Western Community Forest area.”

In total, the trees to be planted across winter 2020 and into 2021 will eventually store over 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

The GWCF is a long-term programme to enrich landscapes. With Swindon at its heart, the forest covers over 168 square miles, stretching from the North Wessex Downs to the River Thames.