Highways Agency helps
woodlands flourish across England as part of National Tree Week this winter
HIGHWAYS AGENCY News
Release (HA-53-08) issued by COI News Distribution Service. 26
November 2008
The Highways
Agency, which is one of the biggest planters of trees in England,
is marking National Tree Week (26 November - 7 December) with tree
planting events across its network.
A number of projects in conjunction with schools around the
country will see a great opportunity for schoolchildren to get
involved, and to find out how we can all contribute towards a
greener future. Tree-planting events and tree care tasks will help
to ensure the health and sustainability of woodlands and greenery
around the strategic road network of motorways and major A roads
in England.
The Highways Agency took on the (then) Ministry of
Transport's tree planting programme in 1994, continuing work
which originally began in 1958. In this planting season we will be
planting the 52 millionth tree.
As well as screening traffic from homes and places of work, trees
also provide a noise barrier, stabilise soil on verges, control
water run-off onto roads as well as adjoining land and increase
biodiversity. The most widely planted tree is the common oak which
can play host to over 280 insect species and is the backbone of
the traditional lowland English woodland. The second most used
tree is the ash supporting about 40 insect species and with its
more open canopy allows a richer ground flora to flourish beneath
its leaves.
Tony Sangwine, environmental advisor for the Highways Agency, said:
"National Tree Week comes at the end of a wonderful display
of Autumn colour on our busy highway network. It reminds us of the
vital role that trees have to play in the sustainability of our
transport links. They provide a rich habitat for wildlife, filter
polluted air, stabilise the soil, reduce the impact of stormwater
run-off and help to integrate roads with their surrounding
landscape. The Highways Agency now has 14,000 hectares of woodland
on its estate and much of this planting screens people from views
of traffic as well as providing seasonal interest through flower,
fruit and leaf colour."
National Tree Week is organised by The Tree Council and marks the
start of the winter tree planting season each year.
Pauline Buchanan Black, director-general of The Tree Council, said:
"It's clear that trees improve the quality of the
environment, but there are social and economic reasons to plant
trees as well as environmental ones. As one of the biggest
planters of trees in England, we are so pleased that the Highways
Agency is committed to supporting the work of The Tree Council by
helping to raise awareness and to encourage people to appreciate
how important trees are for the environment."
Across the country, tree planting events will be taking place in
the following areas:
North East - Tree planting event with a local school around A69
Haydon Bridge Bypass (major project) scheme.
West Midlands - Schools around the area of M42 junction 1 have
been invited to join in tree planting activities.
East - the A14 Haughley to Stowmarket improvement scheme has led
to 5,793 coniferous and deciduous trees being planted.
Ends
Notes to Editors
1. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department
for Transport. We manage, maintain and improve England's
motorways and major A roads on behalf of the Secretary of State.
2. The Highways Agency is committed to meeting its statutory
duties defined in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 and
other legislation, and to have regard to the conservation and
enhancement of biological diversity across the network. In 2002,
the Agency introduced its biodiversity action plan and identified
15 targets for species and habitats against which delivery would
be tracked as a percentage in its Annual Report. This year the
Agency aims to deliver a further 6% of these 15 targets, making a
cumulative total of 67%. A variety of species and habitats will
benefit from this plan, such as otters and ancient woodlands.
3. Real -time traffic information for England's motorways
and major A roads is now available:
* From our new Traffic Radio service, available on DAB digital
radio and the internet at http://www.trafficradio.org.uk
To tune into the DAB service, simply press the "scan"
button on your radio. The radio will tune into all available
channels and you can select the new service by scrolling through
the channels until you reach "Traffic Radio".
* On the internet at http://www.highways.gov.uk/trafficinfo
* By phone from the Highways Agency 24-hour voice activated phone
service on 08700 660 115. (Calls from BT landlines to 0870
numbers will cost no more than 8p per minute; mobile calls usually
cost more).
4. Before using a mobile, find a safe place to park. Never stop
on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency. Make
sure it's safe and legal before you call.
5. For more general information about the Highways Agency and
its work, visit the Highways Agency website http://www.highways.gov.uk,
or telephone the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 50 40
30 at any time. (Calls to 0845 numbers cost no more than 3p/min
from BT residential landlines. Call charges from other landlines
and mobile networks may vary.)
Safe driving in severe weather
* Drivers are reminded that rain and spray can reduce visibility
and when the road is wet it can take up to twice as long to stop,
so it makes sense to slow down when it's raining.
* Surface water may affect motorways and major A roads so we
advise drivers to move slowly through any standing water and test
their brakes once they're through before continuing to drive.
* High-sided vehicles are particularly affected by windy weather
but strong gusts can also blow any vehicle, cyclist, motorcyclist,
or horse rider off course. This can happen on open stretches of
road exposed to strong crosswinds, or when passing bridges and
high-sided vehicles.
* The Highways Agency is advising drivers to plan their journey,
check the weather forecast, road conditions and their route for
delays before they leave home and delay travelling if the weather
becomes severe.
* Drivers are also advised to carry warm clothing and an
emergency pack, which includes food and water, boots, de-icer, a
torch, a spade if snow is forecast, and to make sure they have
plenty of fuel for the journey. Listen to travel news on your car
radio or tune into the Agency's Traffic Radio, which is
available on DAB Digital Radio or online at http://www.trafficradio.org.uk.
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Issued by the Highways Agency Press Office. For enquiries from
the media, journalists and researchers only, call Alex Barnett or
Kelly Logan on 0207 081 7443 or email pressoffice@highways.gsi.gov.uk