Environmental activists have praised their council’s plans to plant more than 300 new trees but urged it not to ignore its existing stock.

Campaign group Brent Trees, which has held talks with Brent Council about protecting the borough’s trees, said more can be done to improve the region’s environment.

It comes after the council announced that more than £200,000 – a combination of council funding and external grants – would be spent on planting 318 new trees in Brent by the end of next winter.

The council explained the money will also be spent on maintaining the trees for the next three years.

Katie Pedder, one of the founders of Brent Trees, said it welcomed the news but called for more information about what kind of trees will be planted.

She said: “This positive news won’t distract us from lobbying the council for adequate tree care for Brent’s existing tree stock.

“There is limited value in planting new trees whilst at the same time felling Brent’s mature trees which do so much to mitigate both climate change and air pollution.

“We hope that we can secure proper resources for mature trees as part of the budget consultation ending on Friday (January 31).

“The maintenance of the mature tree stock should be at the heart of Brent climate emergency response and we look forward to working with the council to make this a reality.”

According to the council, the trees will be planted in areas with low tree cover, high levels of air pollution and high levels of deprivation.

It noted that it pledged to plant 520 new trees each year, and Cllr Krupa Sheth, responsible for the environment at Brent Council, said this would contribute towards tackling the recently declared climate emergency in the borough.

She said: “A simple tree has a story that lasts a lifetime, it cleans the air we breathe, it gives habitat to natural life and it makes our streets that much nicer to behold.

“Our climate fightback has only just begun, but with hundreds of new trees coming to roads and avenues, we’re not just planting for the future, but investing in Brent’s lungs today.”