£2m-worth of trees to be planted across Blackpool to improve flood defence
It'll not only make the town a bit greener, but also act as flood protection.
Blackpool Council has been awarded £1.8m by United Utilities to plant trees in urban spaces across the seaside town.
The funds were awarded as part of United Utilities’ Green Recovery Project, and a further £200k from the Council itself.
It'll see 1,000 new 'sustainable drainage trees' planted in residential streets and urban spaces throughout the town.
Sustainable drainage trees are trees with specialist underground pits to help them survive urban environments and to improve flood prevention.
The pits will use surface water from the gutters to feed the trees and filter excess into drainage systems, reducing runoff into the sewage systems.
'Excess water won't continue down the road to areas of known flooding.'
Heather Lancaster, Rainwater Management Technical Principal at United Utilities said: "It's like a big bath next to the tree.
"The tree's not actually sat in the water, it's sat next to it, but it's drawn into the root base of the tree.
"The tree remains watered even in dry spells from the water that's held underneath it.
"The highway gullies you see- the gutters on the road- are piped into those tanks.
"So, excess water is taken off the roads when it rains, and it doesn't continue down the road to areas of known flooding."
Earlier this year, homes around the Halsall Lane area of Ormskirk, in West Lancashire, were badly affected by the New Year's Day floods, as heavy rain battered the region.
There was a large community clean-up response, as water sat waist-high with people trapped in their houses.
The boost to Blackpool's tree population will also, the Council say, benefit the local environment, increase biodiversity, improve air quality, and offer a wider canopy cover.
Blackpool has one of the lowest canopy covers in the country at just over 5%- compared to the national average of just over 16%.
It comes as households are facing across-the-board increases in their bills with "awful April" taking effect.
Homes in England and Wales will see their water bills increase by an "extortionate" average of £86 over the next year alone.
Regulator Ofwat has allowed companies to raise average bills by 36%, or £157 in total, over the next five years, to £597 by 2030, to help finance a £104 billion upgrade for the sector.
However, despite the average £31-a-year rise, households will be hit particularly hard from this month (April 2025), with an average increase of £86 or 20% front-loaded into the coming year, with smaller percentage increases in each of the next four years.
Unlike gas and electricity suppliers, households cannot choose which company supplies their water, meaning they must either absorb the financial hit or consider ways to reduce their consumption.
'A step forward for a greener Blackpool'
Councillor Jane Hugo, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, said: “With this funding we can plant more trees in urban spaces, increasing canopy cover and improving biodiversity.
"This is a great step forward in our vision for a greener Blackpool.
"The council already works in partnership with local people to manage and protect the town’s trees and woodlands.
"This funding means we can go further creating a greener, healthier future for residents.
"I look forward to seeing the positive impact this project will have for many years to come.”
Heather added: “This project promotes the re-use of surface water, diverting volume away from the sewer network and generating capacity for future climate resilience.
"The new trees will improve the biodiversity of the area and create a welcome green canopy for the community to enjoy.
"We are pleased to continue working with the council, investing into our communities and promoting our beautiful North West.”
In 2020, Blackpool Council launched a 10-year Tree Strategy- aiming to create a thriving urban forest to benefit residents, visitors, wildlife, and the environment.
Hundreds of new trees have already been planted, with the 'Tree Wardens' scheme getting the local community involved.
Rayo Premium