Tree mendous survey revealed

Can you see the wood through the trees? You may not be able to if you live in Trimsaran, which has been ranked the highest in England and Wales for ‘canopy cover’ – a term which describes tree coverage.

A report based on a survey commissioned by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to identify and map canopy spread of treesidentified Trimsaran as having 34.4 per cent cover.

Following close behind is Glanaman, which ranks second in Wales with 28.1 per cent canopy cover.

Natural Resources Wales used aerial photography over three years (2006 to 2009) to identify and map the canopy of trees across all of Wales’s urban areas. It is believed to be the first survey of its kind in the world. The report aims to highlight potential town and wards for targeted tree planting to increase canopy cover.

Out of the 22 counties in Wales, Carmarthenshire canopy cover is seventh highest, with 15.1 per cent cover.

The former mining town of Llanelli, the largest town in the county, is geographically exposed to a maritime environment, with strong, salt-laden winds, and so is not particularly conducive to the growth and realisation of wide-spreading canopies. This explains why it has a relatively low canopy of 13.3 per cent.

Anna Patterson, Carmarthenshire Environment Partnership Development Officer, said: ”It is widely accepted that trees and woodlands have a vital role to play in promoting sustainable communities.

“Tree cover can enrich and balance an environment and in due course boosts our county’s image and prosperity.”

The Carmarthenshire Environment Partnership is a network of organisations based in the county who are working together to promote and encourage environmental sustainability issues.

Read the full report and find out more about conserving wildlife and

biodiversity in Wales – visit naturalresourceswales.gov.uk.