Local authorities and their network partners have been encouraged to take action on creating a greener future for their respective regions, it has bben proposed.

Councils should make greater use of businesses, schools and local communities through sponsorship programmes and be expected to raise £15,000 for each town in their constituencies to help protect local trees, a new report by environmental specialists ADAS and Myerscough College has suggested.

Work by local authorities on protecting regional flora should also be regularly monitored and enforced by the government, the report added.

The policy suggestions follow the publication of the largest survey of urban trees in England this week which revealed a decline in the number of older trees in towns and cities and a decline in the overall planting rates of new vegetation.

Commenting on the findings, ADAS and Myerscough College’s study added: "Trees play a key role in reducing the impacts of climate change in urban areas and are important to residents of towns and cities."

Meanwhile, a £1 million prize fund has been set-up for people who develop new approaches to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent in their communities as part of Nesta’s Big Green Challenge.

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