Council members have been invited to a seminar to learn how to look after trees.
The course was among a raft of recommendations as part of the council’s review of trees and woodlands in the borough.
The council’s scrutiny and overview committee conducted a thorough investigation of trees in Croydon and felt members needed to know more about the plants.
It recommended: “Council members should be offered a learning and development opportunity regarding trees, their planting and maintenance, and the opportunities and challenges they present, particularly for the environment.”
A series of members’ seminars were set up to discuss tree issues, with the first planned this month, only to be postponed until September.
A spokesman for the council said the seminar was one that was due to happen anyway.
It was planned by the London Tree Officers Association, who are made up of tree officers from all 33 London boroughs.
The association, which dates back to 1982, aims to enhance the management of the capital’s trees and woodlands and is currently hosted by the London borough of Camden.
Each borough takes its turn to host the meetings, and the most recent was flagged to the members of Croydon Council, with about six believed to have shown an interest.
The spokesman added: “The seminar looks at various issues around management of the borough’s tree stock (risk assessments etc.)”
It is hoped the tree seminar will help members understand the issues affecting trees when making decisions in their ward and for the borough as a whole.
The council is also hoping residents will assist in the care of trees in the borough.
It has recommended trying to recruit more people to water trees and saplings during droughts to try and save as many trees as possible.
Other recommendations in the report included investigating ways to reduce avoidable tree deaths, using savings from reduced tree deaths to plant more trees, and increased funding for street trees.
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