Residents' chosen trees for Tower Hamlets

March 17, 2010 - PRLog -- Local residents and children from Sir William Burrough primary school joined Trees for Cities and Tower Hamlets Council at street tree plantings in Stepney Green on 16 March.

10 new trees are being planted in the area as part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets’ You Decide initiative, which gives local residents the opportunity to determine how the council spends money in the coming financial year.

The project is funded by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Local Area Partnership.

Trees for Cities is also planting in Tower Hamlets as part of the Mayor of London’s street tree programme and other projects with Tower Hamlets Council, all of which combined have introduced more than two hundred new street trees so far this year.

A street tree can transform a local landscape adding colour and texture throughout the year, providing new habitats for wildlife and improving the general street environment for all by providing shelter and shade.

Julia Morton, Trees for Cities’ Consultation Coordinator, said: “We had a really positive response when consulting the residents about the planting of new trees on their streets. One especially keen resident pledged to water the new tree outside her home.”

One of Trees for Cities’ driving forces is a commitment to raising awareness of the importance of street trees. As vital community spaces, it is important that streets look inviting to encourage their use and get people outside, and projects are ongoing across the country to make cities greener and less threatening.

Trees for Cities consulted local residents, taking space and architecture on streets into account, in order to deliver suitable trees that can grace the roads for hundreds of years to come.

Trees for Cities has planted more than 140,000 trees worldwide on streets, in parks, local woodlands and community projects.  The charity also works with urban communities to protect trees through volunteer projects including the Ancient Tree Hunt in London (www.ancienttreehunt.org.uk), a key project in the international year of biodiversity.”


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Location: Salmon Lane, Tower Hamlets

For further information and photography, contact Stephen Gray, stephen.gray@treesforcities.org, 020 7820 4428


Notes to Editors

Trees for Cities is an independent charity which plants trees and landscapes public spaces in urban areas. The charity’s vision is to stimulate a greening renaissance in cities around the world that will impact on global warming and beautify the urban landscape, as well as encouraging greater social cohesion through the active participation of local people. A special effort is made to involve children and young people in all of the projects. The public can get involved by sponsoring trees, registering as a volunteer, enrolling in training programmes, taking part in the annual Tree-Athlon and going to fundraising parties – see www.treesforcities.org for more information.

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An independent charity which plants trees and landscapes public spaces in urban areas, to impact on global warming and beautify the urban landscape, encouraging greater social cohesion through the active participation of local people.