Surrey County Council planted 116,359 trees in the 2025/26 financial year, bringing the five year total to about 885,000. That beats the council's original target of 600,000 trees between 2021 and 2026. The council has committed to planting 1.2 million trees by 2030, one for every resident. Local officials are questioning whether the count matters if many trees die. Elmbridge Borough Council passed a motion asking the future East Surrey council to update its tree strategy to include survival rates, after reports that many trees were dying within a year due to lack of aftercare. Councillor Katerina Lusk said there is little point celebrating numbers if a significant number of trees are dead a year later. The tree planting is part of Surrey's climate change delivery programme. The council says it is broadly on track for its 2030 net zero target and reports a 60% reduction in its own carbon emissions. It also funded energy efficiency improvements for 1,438 low-income households, including insulation, solar, and low-carbon heating. The council acknowledged external market conditions and supply chain constraints are affecting progress.
