Surrey County Council beats tree planting target by 285,000 trees, but survival rates questioned

Surrey County Council says it has planted about 885,000 trees between 2021 and 2026, beating its original 600,000 target. The latest annual figures show 116,359 trees planted in 2025/26. The council has now committed to 1.2 million trees by 2030, roughly one per resident. The tree count is part of a wider climate programme. The council reports carbon emissions down about 60% and says it is broadly on track for 2030 net zero. It also supported 1,438 low-income households with insulation, solar, and low-carbon heating measures. Not everyone is celebrating the headline number. Elmbridge Borough Council wants future plans to track survival rates, saying many young trees die within a year without proper aftercare. The council also cites market conditions and supply chain pressures as challenges ahead.