Council's new trees die 'due to underwatering'

Hundreds of trees planted earlier this year have died amid warmer temperatures

Hundreds of trees planted by a council have died because they were not watered enough during this summer's heatwaves, a councillor has said.

Darlington Borough Council said its team watered the saplings when they were planted in Merrybent and opposite Hummersknott Academy.

Green Party representative Kate Mammolotti said she was told the team which waters them was stretched too thin during summer.

A spokesperson for the Labour-led authority blamed the tree deaths on "exceptionally dry and warm weather".

Mammolotti praised the council for planting so many trees but criticised its lack of long-term planning.

"I emailed the team that planted them, and they said they have planted so many that with the hot weather they have had difficulty getting around watering them.

"It's awful, absolutely heartbreaking," said the Hummersknott ward councillor.

Mammolotti said the council should have considered if it had a "big enough team" to cope with the aftercare before planting.

"It's good to plant so many trees but I think that you can't just plant them and leave them," she said.

'Best endeavours'

Resident Clive Rickaby accused the council of "tick box behaviour" and not caring about the long-term future of the trees.

"It is absolutely ridiculous, just a complete waste of taxpayers' money," he said.

"If they don't have a big enough team to water them then they should not plant them."

A council spokesperson said: "The trees were planted earlier this year and were watered when they went in and whilst they were getting established.

"Sadly, despite our best endeavours throughout the season, because of the exceptionally dry and warm weather we have had this year, a higher than normal number of saplings have failed."

The council committed to removing the dead trees and trying to replace them next planting season.