Ashby de la Zouch Town Council is looking to appoint a Tree Warden.

The Tree Council recognised the value of Leicestershire's tree wardens as long ago as 1981 and made the tree warden scheme a national initiative.

Now the Town Council wants someone to fill that role in Ashby.

Tree wardens are volunteers appointed by the council to:

• be a contact and support for all things tree related in their local area;

• protect trees by reporting on early signs of pests, disease and vandalism;

• gather information, survey and record information about trees important for wildlife or heritage in their parish;

• help look out for opportunities to plant more trees in the local community, enhancing the environment for parishioners;

• help find the money to fund local treeplanting projects, e.g. the Tree Council have grants only available to tree wardens;

• get involved in campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of trees

In return, the Town Council would be expected to support their tree wardens by:

• including them in discussions about tree matters;

• inviting them to attend parish/town council meetings and report any tree related matters;

• support them with any necessary resources needed to carry out their volunteering (within reason);

• and ensure that they are covered for health and safety and insurance as a town council volunteer

Leicestershire County Council says that trees are important in your town because they:

• provide a habitat for wildlife;

• provide shade and shelter for people;

• can muffle sound effectively;

• are appreciated by local people for their beauty and the sense of wellbeing they bring;

• and can increase the property value of homes by up to 15 per cent

If this sounds like a position that would be of interest to you, please contact Ashby de la Zouch Town Council on 01530 416961, or email: [email protected].