Since pledging our support for the Big Halton Forest initiative last year, the first trees of 2024 were planted in our Upton neighbourhood last week. Halton Borough Council’s lead on Climate Change, Councillor Phil Harris, was on hand and helped our Environmental Services team with the planting.

Halton Borough Council’s Big Halton Forest aims to plant 130,000 trees across Runcorn and Widnes by 2030 in a bid to contribute to efforts to tackle the climate crisis and boost wellbeing in the area.

We have ambitious plans to plant 2500 trees across our neighbourhoods in 2024.

George Peters, Halton Housing’s Environmental Services Operations Manager said: “It is extremely exciting for Halton Housing to have the opportunity to work in partnership with Halton Borough Council and help deliver the Big Halton Forest. The importance of trees in our communities to support local ecosystems and climate resilience has long been understood. We are looking forward to continuing our engagement with the people of Halton to help educate our next generation and deliver the Big Halton Forest for the benefit of our community.”

Cllr Phil Harris says: “Partnership working is going to be an important part of the Big Forest project. Halton Housing was the first housing landlord to commit to plantings, more will follow and next year we will be working with the Mersey Forest to increase the number of trees and shrubs being planted.”

Funding to date, for the Big Halton Forest has come from a range of external funding meaning there is no added burden to local taxpayers. Funding streams have included the Liverpool City Region Environment Fund; the Ineos Environment Fund and the Government’s DEFRA Woodland Creation Accelerator Fund.

Find out more about our approach to sustainability.