A council has admitted around 12,000 trees it planted to help the environment have died - after they forget to water them. Gloucester City Council planted 13,500 new saplings in February this year as part of ITS bid to tackle the climate crisis.
But councillors say 95 per cent have died - because the authority failed to water them over the summer heatwave. A council spokesperson said that the council had struggled to employ a tree officer due to the tough job market.
Councillor Alastair Chambers said: "The council planted 13,500 trees in the city, which is fantastic. What is pathetic is the non-maintenance and watering of these young planted trees, which therefore has resulted in them dying at a rate of 90-95%.
"Yet again, it's a crazy waste of city resident tax payers money, and a dreadful loss of trees - it's green washing."
A Gloucestershire City Council spokesperson said the unprecedented hot weather in the UK over the summer led to the dangerous drought. They said: "It’s disappointing that this led to the loss of trees in the city and we will be looking to do some replanting where resources allow with a more robust watering/care schedule put in place.”
