Hertfordshire County Council has exceeded its ambition to support the planting of more than 100,000 trees in 2025/26, according to newly published data.

The vast majority of those new trees were planted by green-fingered Hertfordshire residents as part of the Your Tree Our Future Scheme, which distributed 94,000 trees to residents across the county free of charge.

But it also includes a number of trees planted in larger landowner projects and as part of the council's own woodland management.

Overall, the council had set the target of enabling the planting of at least 101,000 trees over the 12-month period, ending in March this year (2026).

But reports due to be presented to the council's resources and performance cabinet panel meeting on Wednesday (April 15), suggest that the target had been exceeded by the end of December.

And they suggest that overall in the 2025/26 planting season, the council has supported the establishment of 128,245 new trees.

They point to 94,000 trees requested by more than 5,000 residents as part of the Your Tree Our Future scheme.

And they highlight 19 confirmed landowner projects that will deliver a further 24,547 trees.

advertisement

According to a report published in advance of the meeting, the planting gives residents the chance to plant and look after trees on their own land.

More widely, it says, it contributes to nature recovery, reducing the impact of flooding, increased temperatures and air pollution, as well as maintaining a "much-loved landscape".

And, says the report, it provides opportunities for residents to take part in environmental initiatives, improving health and wellbeing, via access to nature.

The county council set the target to enable the planting of at least 101,000 trees – reported to be 10,000 more than in the previous year – in July.

And according to the council's report that target has been "exceeded early" – "strengthening confidence in achieving and sustaining 100,000+ per year".

The data was included as part of a report on HCC corporate performance in the third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, running between October and December.

The report will be presented to a meeting of the council's resources and performance cabinet panel at 10am on Wednesday (April 15) and can be viewed at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk