National Highways planted 850,000 saplings as part of a £1.5bn upgrade of the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon, which was opened in 2020. But an internal review seen by Sky News reveals three-quarters of them have since died.
The government agency responsible for our main roads, National Highways, has admitted that over half a million trees have died beside a single 21-mile stretch of new carriageway.
They estimate the cost of replanting at £2.9m.
Many tree experts say this is symptomatic of a focus on tree planting over tree care. Only growing trees capture carbon or improve habitat.
The upgrade of the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon, cost £1.5bn and was opened in 2020.
A number of mature trees were destroyed during construction and planting new ones was part of the development consent order, the permission to build.
National Highways planted 850,000 saplings but three years later, Sky News has seen an internal review that points to 'an unusually high fatality rate' and reveals that three-quarters of them have died.
National Highways point to poor soil and extreme heat as the main causes.
Their internal document suggests the replanting plan will use more mulch to hold water, better tree guards, improved topsoil, and reviewing both the type of tree planted and the saplings age.
Extracted from: https://news.sky.com/story/half-a-million-trees-have-died-next-to-one-21-mile-stretch-of-road-national-highways-admits-12836768
Comments