GREEN LIGHT: Petersfield Central Car Park to Get Eight New Trees After Residents’ Calls

Petersfield central car park is set for a greener look after East Hampshire District Council announced plans to plant eight new trees in the town centre site.

The council says the scheme will replace dead and dying trees that have recently been removed from the car park. The new planting will include cherry, maple and hawthorn, chosen for their suitability to the site and their ornamental value.

EHDC leader Cllr Richard Millard said the work will be the first project supported by his new Leader Priority Budget, a £150,000 fund launched this year for schemes across East Hampshire.

According to the council, the project follows calls from local people who wanted more trees in the central car park after unhealthy trees were taken away. The aim is to improve one of the town’s busiest gateways, provide shade for shoppers and create habitats for wildlife.

The work is also expected to include maintenance of existing trees and plants on the site. Tiger mulch and root guards are due to be used, replacing existing grates that the council says are more likely to create trip hazards.

Cllr Millard said the trees would help make the car park “greener” and “more attractive”, adding that he hoped it would be one of many projects creating a lasting legacy across East Hampshire.

The council said work was expected to take place during April and May and be completed by Foremost Tree Surgeons.

For Petersfield residents and visitors, the scheme is modest but visible: a small town-centre improvement in a car park many people use for shopping, appointments and access to the high street.

Source: East Hampshire District Council, published 27 April 2026.