PEOPLE are being urged to embrace the town’s trees to help raise their spirits.

Ipswich Borough Council has an on-going planting policy in the hopes of increasing the number of trees in the town.

The Forestry Commission recently claimed living next to trees makes people happier, and the borough council’s tree expert Andy Whalley echoed the new research.

He said: “Our town is blessed by beautiful parks and open spaces with some magnificent trees and we have an on-going planting policy to increase our tree cover.

“We also run a successful tree sponsorship scheme, so residents can get in touch and, who knows, it might lift their spirits next year and in the future when they see the fruits of their labours.”

To find out about the tree sponsorship scheme you can contact Steve Leech on 01473 433534.