Opposition councillors in Gateshead are calling on the council to increase the amount of woodland in the borough.
On Thursday Liberal Democrat leader, Coun Jonathan Wallace, will move a motion calling on the council to identify land for tree planting, create community orchards and work with schools, universities and the voluntary sector to deliver the plan.
Coun Wallace said Gateshead Council should plant the orchards on vacant plots of land.
“Trees are one of the most effective ways to absorb the carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels which causes climate change," he said.
“There are many areas of open space where the council previously cut the grass but have now been abandoned. Some are turning into wastelands but they could have a new purpose as woodland, making our area greener and acting as a sponge to soak up carbon dioxide.
“We want Gateshead to have a strategy to identify those areas that could be planted up as woodland or community orchards. We want children to play their part as well through local schools.
“We cannot sit back and do nothing. We are entering a climate crisis and we need to act now to tackle it or otherwise the damage will get worse and could reach a point of no return.”
Coun Wallace has a smallholding near Sunniside and is planning to grow hundreds of trees from seeds collected locally.
Once they have grown into saplings, he will be giving them away to anyone who wants to plant them to help make Gateshead green.
The motion was originally submitted for debate at a council meeting in November but was moved back due to the general election.
