Written question asked by Baroness Teather (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 25 January 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 31 January 2005. It was answered by Phil Hope (Labour) on Monday, 31 January 2005 on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Question: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many trees have been planted in London since 1975; how many trees there were in Greater London in (a) 1950, (b) 1960, (c) 1975, (d) 1980, (e) 1990, (f) 2000 and (g) the latest year for which figures are available. - Inc figures.

Answer: Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) how many trees have been planted in London since 1975; [211487] (2) how many trees there were in Greater London in (a) 1975, (b) 1980, (c) 1990, (d) 2000 and (e) the latest year for which figures are available. [211488] Phil Hope: Accurate data is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. All local authorities maintain their own records of privately- owned trees that are protected by tree preservation orders and many have inventories of trees for which they are responsible. The last survey of trees in London (Action for London's Trees, 1993) estimated that there were nearly 6,000,000 individual trees and hedges and more than 65,000 woodlands and stands of trees. A survey is currently being carried out to assess the composition of trees in towns and cities in England, including London. The results will be available in summer 2005.

Secondary information