BRADFORD Council's efforts to plant more trees in the district has received international recognition from the United Nations.

It has been awarded Tree Cities of the World recognition by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization and the Arbor Day Foundation. The international programme celebrates cities across all continents that meet core standards for the care and planning of urban trees and forests.

To achieve recognition, the Council met the five core standards: establish responsibility, set the rules, know what you have, allocate the resources and celebrate achievements.

Cllr Sarah Ferriby, Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “This accolade is a great achievement for us and recognises that we are taking tree planting and work to tackle climate action seriously. It’s great to be placed on an international platform for our work – well done to all involved."

Tree to be planted for every Bradford child in push to make district a greener place

“The Tree Cities of the World programme recognises the efforts cities take towards greener, healthier communities,” said Hiroto Mitsugi, Assistant Director General, Forestry Department, FAO. “The most successful urban landscapes are those that have factored trees into the plan. We applaud Bradford’s work to plant and care for its urban trees.”

“Bradford joins cities around the world that have taken steps toward robust and healthy city forests,” said Dan Lambe, president, Arbor Day Foundation. “Trees clean our air and water, provide shade, and beautify the places we live and work. This designation signifies Bradford’s commitment to being a healthier, happier city.”

The Tree Cities of the World programme is built off the success of the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA program, which has provided recognition to cities within the United States for more than 40 years. The vision of the Tree Cities of the World programme is to connect cities around the world in a new network dedicated to sharing and adopting the most successful approaches to managing city trees and forests.

Trees provide multiple benefits to a city when properly planted and maintained. They help to improve the visual appeal of a neighborhood, increase property values, reduce home cooling costs, remove air pollutants and provide wildlife habitat, among many other benefits.