We are very fortunate to have such beautiful green spaces in Surrey Heath – the local authority area with the highest percentage of tree cover in the country – and Michael is passionate about protecting and enhancing our environment for future generations.
Planting more trees
Trees play a vital role in our environment, helping to clean our air, moderate temperatures and cut the risk of floods, and Michael is championing the Government’s drive to plant more trees across the country.
Michael is a huge supporter of Surrey County Council’s ambitious target to plant 1.2 million trees (one for every Surrey resident) across the county by 2030. Surrey’s Tree Strategy, which is attached below, provides further details.
Surrey Heath Borough Council has also been working to enhance the local environment and has planted more than 2,000 trees in 2022, helping to improve our biodiversity and green spaces, as well as providing homes to wildlife.
Michael has written to both Surrey County Council and Surrey Heath Borough Council to highlight the funding available to councils through the Local Authority Treescapes Fund. The Fund aims to improve landscape connectivity outside woodland, increase natural colonisation where appropriate and provide benefits to ecosystems and society, such as carbon absorption, flood protection and support for biodiversity. The fund is part of the Government’s Nature for Climate Fund and will directly contribute to achieving our ambitious tree planting targets to restore habitats in England.
In March 2023, Michael met Cllrs Marisa Heath and Paul Deach, Cabinet Member and Deputy Cabinet Member for Environment at Surrey County Council, to hear more about Surrey’s tree planting agenda and he is hugely grateful to Marisa and Paul for all the brilliant work they are doing to protect and enhance the environment across Surrey.
Trees Michael has planted
2 December 2022 – Michael planted two trees in Windlesham during National Tree Week to Commemorate Her Majesty The Queen and her dedicated service to our country.
10 June 2022 – Michael planted a tree at Wessex Lodge in Bagshot to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen and her Platinum Jubilee.
3 December 2021 – Michael took part in The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative, and planted a tree in Windlesham to mark Her Majesty’s 70th year.
28 May 2021 – Michael planted a tree in Warren Wood in Camberley.
6 March 2020 - Michael planted a tree at Bagshot Infants School during Surrey Tree Week.
2 November 2018 - Michael planted a tree in Windlesham as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative.
3 November 2017 – Michael planted a tree at Holly Lodge Primary School in Ash Vale.
Tackling litter
Michael is a great Supporter of Keep Britain Tidy, an independent environmental charity, and in March 2022, Michael took part in a litter pick in Chobham for the Great British Spring Clean campaign.
Michael said:
"The pandemic highlighted the importance of clean green spaces for both our physical and mental wellbeing. Every act to protect the environment, no matter how small, makes a big difference. So I am delighted to support Keep Britain Tidy in bringing together volunteers for the seventh year of the Great British Spring Clean."
Michael took part in the 2023 Great British Spring Clean on 17 March, and was delighted to join so many eager volunteers litter picking in Chobham.
