Trees could be planted for city's newborn babies

Members of Southend City Council are calling for more trees to be planted in the city

Planting a new tree for every baby born could have a positive impact on a seaside city, councillors have said.

Southend City Council Conservative members Dan Nelson and Alan Dear are behind a call to plant a new sapling for every childbirth registered in the Essex city.

Parents would be told where their child's tree had been planted.

The motion is set to be discussed at Thursday's full council meeting, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The idea has been welcomed by Richard Longstaff, Green Party member for the Leigh ward.

"It will really make people feel connected to the city. It’s a wonderful idea," he said.

“We need to plant thousands of trees and we need to know the location of where we can plant trees, and that’s the big hurdle.

“We’re always being told, ‘No, you can’t just plant a tree anywhere’. Well, we know that, but give us the locations to plant.”

The motion follows criticism that the council has chopped trees down.