THE unlikely issue of trees has been placed on the General Election campaign agenda by one of the candidates bidding to represent York.

Susan Wade Weeks, who is standing for the Conservatives in the York Central seat, has launched a campaign aimed at transforming the city into a green oasis within a year.

She is calling on every resident to plant a tree on April 23 to mark St George’s Day and create a “New Forest of York”.

Ms Wade Weeks said: “York has only four per cent of tree cover compared with 11 per cent in other cities nationwide.

“On my campaign trail, I have noticed a striking lack of greenery in parts of the city. Many front gardens are very beautiful, but many are empty tarmac or paved.

“New trees will bring a new lease of life, help to control emissions, provide new homes to wildlife, and beautify our streets and our estates. If every household in York plants just one tree – a sapling, a seedling, even an acorn or an apple pip, and it doesn’t need to cost anything or take up space – we will have more than 70,000 new trees by next year without involving the Government or the council.”

In the run-up to the last City of York Council elections in 2007, the possibility of planting a new wood in York was considered after councillors claimed the city did not boast enough trees.

Meanwhile, Ms Wade Weeks’ campaign yesterday received a visit from Ed Vaizey, Shadow Minister for Culture, Media and Sport, as he took a look at the new Mystery Plays exhibition at York Art Gallery, attended a rehearsal at the National Centre for Early Music in Walmgate and ran the rule over the vacant Barbican site, as well as discussing Rowntree Park’s Ark In The Park project.