Oakham Town Council has rejected a plan to plant more trees in the town because of the costs involved.

"We should be planting more trees in order to remain a pleasant environment in which to work, live and play," Cllr Hannah Williams told the full council at a meeting on 8 February 2023.

She added: "Oakham Town Council recognises the benefits trees and hedgerows provide for the climate, air quality, wildlife, people's well-being and flood management, and seeks to increase both tree and hedgerow cover on council owned or managed land. Therefore, would the council support the following action: to plant additional trees and/or hedgerows on Centenary Fields and/or Royce Park, with the council agreeing to spend up to £4,000 on appropriate trees in consultation with the tree officer and Cllr Williams."

Members agreed that in order to promote the town as an attractive place to visit and stay, planting additional trees would provide many benefits, including:

• the production of oxygen
• helping to mitigate the effects of climate change through absorbing carbon dioxide
• cleaning the air from pollutants and toxins
• protecting from flooding; helping to keep cool
• providing a home for wildlife
• being good for mental health and wellbeing
• as existing trees reach old age, more will need to be planted to maintain the current tree cover

However, mayor Sally-Anne Wadsworth pointed out: "While I am in favour of planting as many trees as possible, when we engaged Rutland County Council about this matter I was under the impression they were offering us free trees – yet somehow this has changed to approximately £4,000, and we simply cannot afford that."

Members voted to reject the proposal on the basis that it was too expensive.