New trees planted in Redbridge have been left to die for lack of watering, a councillor has said, as the council’s ambitious tree planting target faces scrutiny.
Concerns about the ongoing watering and maintenance of newly planted trees, and their survival rate, were raised at a Clean and Green Committee meeting on 4 November 2026. Councillor Adam Joiner, who raised the issue of dead trees, offered to give officers the specific locations of trees that had died due to lack of watering, to help them address future issues. When an officer asked for details to help remedy the problems, Councillor Joiner replied: “I’ll go back and I can get specifics from that resident.”
The meeting did not provide survival rate statistics for newly planted trees, or detail specific measures for ensuring adequate watering. Nor was the budget for watering and maintaining the 20,000 new trees mentioned, and the meeting information does not say whether drought-resilient species are being prioritised.
A councillor asked whether the tree planting strategy would address the need for increased canopy cover to mitigate the effects of heatwaves.
Officers acknowledged the concerns and said work is underway to develop a detailed strategy for the tree planting initiative. A councillor asked whether it would include timelines for tree growth, shade provision and specific planting locations.
The council’s tree service is responsible for the management and maintenance of trees in parks, conducting three-year inspections and ongoing upkeep.
