The Forestry Commission England published a report in 2010 setting out the arguments in favour of trees in development and the urban environment. If you click here you can see a pdf version of the report.
The key points are:
- Trees dramatically improve the streetscene
- Trees help combat climate change
- Trees can deliver an economic dividend
- Trees provide numerous social benefits
Towards the end of the report is a development management checklist outlining the practical issues to consider around trees when planning a development. It is recommended that trees and woods are considered right from the start in any planning application process.