Greening Blackpool approved planting plan

General tree (native) species which are suitable in the north west

Details of general trees
Scientific name	Common name	Max height	Longevity	Growth per annum	Wildlife benefits	Notes
Alnus Glutinosa	Alder	15m	160 years	90cm for first 20 years	Caterpillars, moths, birds, pollinators and mammals	Deciduous Catkins March to April Improves local soil fertility. Can be used to stabilise river banks, assist in flood control, to purify water in waterlogged soils Tolerates air pollution so good for highway verges
Betula Pendula	Silver Birch	15-20m	60-80 years	Up to 2.6m for first 20 years	Caterpillars, moths, birds, pollinators, mammals, fungi and wild flowers	Deciduous Catkins April into winter Improves soil quality for other plants to grow
Betula Pubescens	Downy Birch	24m	60-80 years	Up to 2.6m for first 20 years	Caterpillars, moths, birds, pollinators, mammals and fungi	Deciduous Catkins April into winter Improves soil quality for other plants to grow
Corylus Avellana	Hazel	8-10m	80 years or longer with coppicing	40-60cm for first 20 years	Caterpillars, moths, birds, pollinators, mammals and fungi	Deciduous Flowers and catkins in February Produces edible nuts, Can also form a hedge
Crataegus Monogyna	Hawthorn	10m	250 years	40-60cm for first 20 years	Caterpillars, moths, birds, pollinators and mammals	Deciduous Flowers mid May Berries in Autumn Can also form a hedge and is suitable for small gardens Avoid use around paths and playgrounds due to thorns
Acer Campestre	Field Maple	25m	350 years	40-60cm for first 20 years	Caterpillars, moths, birds, pollinators and mammals	Deciduous Flowers May to June
Ilex Aquifolium	Holly	10-20m	100-500 years	20cm for first 20 years	Birds, mammals, butterflies and pollinators	Evergreen Flowers in spring and berries throughout winter Can also form a hedge
Malus Sylvestris	Crab Apple	8-10m	100 years	20-40cm for first 20 years	Birds, mammals, caterpillars and pollinators	Deciduous Flowers April to May Fruits ripen in Autumn and provide food for birds over winter
Populus Tremula	Aspen	25m	50-100 years	Up to 2m for first 20 years	Birds, mammals, moths and insects	Deciduous Catkins in March
Prunus Avium	Wild Cherry	25m	60 years	50cm for first 20 years	Birds, mammals, butterflies and pollinators	Deciduous Flowers in April and berries in July Fallen leaves smell of marzipan Not suitable to be planted near buildings or utilities due to shallow invasive roots Suitable for larger gardens but not near paths due to fruit dropping
Prunus Padus	Bird Cherry	15m	300 years	40cm for first 20 years	Birds, mammals, butterflies and pollinators	Deciduous Flowers in May and berries in late summer Can be grown as a shrub or a tree Suitable for smaller gardens but not near paths due to fruit dropping
Prunus Spinosa	Blackthorn	5-6m	100 years	40-60cm for first 20 years	Birds, mammals, butterflies and pollinators	Deciduous Flowers in March and berries over winter which is valuable to birds Good in a native hedge
Quercus Petraea	Sessile Oak	30-40m	700 years +	50cm for first 20 years	Birds, mammals, butterflies, caterpillars, pollinators, bats, fungi and beetles	Deciduous Oak trees support more wildlife than any other native trees. Flowers in spring and produce acorns after 20-30 years Slightly more hardy than an English Oak
Quercus Robur	Pedunculate/ English Oak	30-40m	1000 years +	50cm for first 20 years	Birds, mammals, butterflies, caterpillars, pollinators, bats, fungi and beetles	Deciduous Oak trees support more wildlife than any other native trees. Flowers in spring and produce acorns after 20-30 years
Salix Caprea	Goat Willow	10-13m	300 years	20-40cm for first 20 years	Birds, caterpillars, butterflies, moths and pollinators	Deciduous Most versatile of the willows and can be used in hedges. Will tolerate flooding Not suitable to be planted near buildings or drains due to shallow invasive roots Dislikes atmospheric pollution
Salix Cinerea	Grey Willow	10m	300 years	20-40cm for first 20 years	Birds, caterpillars, butterflies, moths and pollinators	Deciduous Will tolerate flooding Not suitable to be planted near buildings or drains due to shallow invasive roots Dislikes atmospheric pollution
Salix Fragilis	Crack Willow	10-20m	300 years or 1000 years with pollarding	20-40cm for first 20 years	Birds, caterpillars, butterflies, moths and pollinators	Deciduous Will tolerate flooding Not suitable to be planted near buildings or drains due to shallow invasive roots Dislikes atmospheric pollution
Salix Viminalis	Osier Willow	6m	N/A	2m for first 20 years	Birds, caterpillars, butterflies, moths and pollinators	Deciduous Good for making living willow structures. Will tolerate flooding Not suitable to be planted near buildings or drains due to shallow invasive roots Dislikes atmospheric pollution
Salix Alba	White Willow	10-30m	30 years	N/A	Birds, caterpillars, butterflies, moths and pollinators	Deciduous Good for making living willow structures. Will tolerate flooding Not suitable to be planted near buildings or drains due to shallow invasive roots Dislikes atmospheric pollution
Sambucus Nigra	Elder	15m	60 years	40-60cm for first 20 years	Birds, caterpillars and pollinators	Deciduous Flowers in June and berries in autumn Tolerant of poor soils, land contamination and drought
Sorbus Aucuparia	Rowan/Mountain Ash	18m	200 years	20-40 cm for first 20 years	Birds, caterpillars and pollinators	Deciduous Flowers in May and berries in autumn
Ulmus Glabra	Wych Elm	40m	500 years	Slow growing	Birds, mammals and insects	Deciduous Flowers in spring and winged fruits in July Dislikes atmospheric pollution
Tilia Europaea	Common Lime	46m	500 years	30-60 cm for first 20 years	Birds, caterpillars and pollinators	Deciduous Flowers June to July and nectar is popular with bees
Tilia Platyphyllos	Large leaved Lime	40m	500 years	30-60 cm for first 20 years	Birds, caterpillars and pollinators	Deciduous Flowers June to July and nectar is popular with bees
Tilia Cordata	Small leaved Lime	40m	500 years	30-60 cm for first 20 years	Birds, caterpillars and pollinators	Deciduous Flowers June to July and nectar is popular with bees
Sorbus Aria	Whitebeam	10-25m	60-80 years	N/A	Caterpillars, moths, birds, pollinators	Deciduous Flowers in late spring and berries in autumn
Juniper Communis	Juniper	10m	150 years	5-30cm for the first 20 years	Caterpillars, moths, birds, pollinators	Evergreen Can be grown as a shrub or a tree Flowers April to May Berries can take up to 2 years to ripen
Sambucus Nigra	Elderberry	15m	60 years	N/A	Caterpillars, moths, birds, pollinators and mammals	Deciduous Flowers in April and May and berries in August to September

Small tree/hedge/shrub (native) species which are suitable in the north west

Details of small trees and hedges
Scientific name	Common name	Max height	Longevity	Growth per annum	Wildlife benefits	Notes
Calluna Vulgaris	Heather	50-100cm	N/A	N/A	Birds, caterpillars, butterflies and pollinators	Evergreen Flowers between July and September
Cytisus Scoparius	Broom	2.5m	N/A	20-40cm	Butterflies and moths	Semi-evergreen. Very hardy in exposed coastal conditions, thrives in and improves nutritionally poor soils.
Lonicera Periclymenum	Honeysuckle	8m	N/A	Up to 90cm	Birds, butterflies and moths, mammals	Deciduous Flowers June to September and berries in autumn.
Rosa Arvensis	Field Rose	4m	N/A	45cm	Birds, butterflies and moths, mammals	Deciduous Flowers in July and berries in autumn
Rosa Canina Agg.	Dog Rose	5m	N/A	40-60cm	Birds, butterflies and moths, mammals	Deciduous Flowers in June and berries in autumn
Ulex Europaeus	Gorse	3m	30 years	20-40cm	Birds, butterflies and moths, mammals	Evergreen improves nutritionally poor soils.
Vaccinium Myrtillus	Bilberry	45cm	N/A	N/A	Pollinators	Deciduous Flowers May to July and berries August to September
Viburnum Opulus	Guelder-rose	8m	N/A	30-60cm	Birds, butterflies and moths and polinators	Deciduous
Euonymus Euopaea	Spindle	9m	100 years	N/A	Birds, butterflies and moths and polinators	Deciduous Flowers May to June and berries October to December
Frangula Alnus	Alder Buckthorn	6m	N/A	N/A	Birds, butterflies and moths and polinators	Deciduous Flowers early summer and berries in autumn
Rhamnus Cathartica	Purging Buckthorn	N/A	N/A	N/A	Birds, butterflies and moths and polinators	Deciduous Flowers early summer and berries in autumn
Cornus Sanguinea	Dogwood	10m or in a hedge	N/A	N/A	Moths, insects, mammals and birds	Deciduous Found growing along woodland edges and in hedgerows. Ornamental garden plant for autumn colour.
Liqustrum Vulgare	Wild Privet	4.5m	N/A	40-60cm	Birds, moths, small mammals	Deciduous or semi-evergreen Flowers in July if uncut
Salix Repens	Creeping Willow	1.5m	N/A	N/A	Birds, caterpillars, butterflies, moths and pollinators	Deciduous Good for ground cover
Buxus Sempervirens	Box	6m	N/A	15cm	Birds, caterpillars, butterflies, moths and pollinators	Evergreen

Please note that, generally, for hedgerow we would expect the planting to comprise at least three of the following species, stagger planted to form continuous hedgerow, and with no more than 50% of the hedgerow made up of any one species:

Hazel - corylus avellana
Hawthorn - crataegus monogyna
Holly - ilex aquifolium
Blackthorn - prunus spinosa
Wild privet - liqustrum vulgare

Species selection is crucial for a tree's survival in its specific setting. Therefore, adequate space must be provided for a tree to thrive and deliver the benefits outlined in the council’s tree strategy at section 1.3: the benefits delivered by trees and woodland. While each planting specification should prioritize native species, it is also important to recognize the role of non-native species in our towns due to climate change. Incorporating some appropriate non-native species can promote species diversity and helps future-proof our tree stock.

For further guidance, please refer to "Tree Species Selection for Green Infrastructure – A Guide for Specifiers" (2019) by the Trees and Design Action Group: Tree Species Selection for Green Infrastructure - Trees and Design Action Group. This guide offers up-to-date advice. It provides a simplified table outlining a tree's environmental tolerances and potential uses and information on its overall dimensions and growth habits.

Given the challenges posed by climate change, pests, and diseases, developing a sustainable planting specification is essential. Trees should be planted in suitable locations to ensure they remain a permanent and beneficial feature of the landscape. Trees planted on hard surfaces require custom specifications due to various factors and considerations.

To successfully establish trees in these environments, planting systems and tree pits that allow for the creation of sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) and adequate rooting areas must be utilised.

Greening Blackpool approved planting plan

General tree (native) species which are suitable in the north west

Small tree/hedge/shrub (native) species which are suitable in the north west

Additional information