Hillingdon Council is the latest London borough to join the new National Street Tree Sponsorship Scheme, Trees for Streets. This scheme lets residents and businesses sponsor additional trees in Hillingdon’s streets and parks, over and above what the council is able to plant within existing budgets.
Trees for Streets is a project by Trees for Cities, the national urban tree charity, and is funded by the government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund. Its goal is to support the planting of more than a quarter of a million additional street trees nationwide over the next ten years, by raising funds to supplement council tree planting budgets through public sponsorship.
The Trees for Streets online platform makes it easy for anyone wanting to sponsor a street tree in their neighbourhood to make a request to their local council by providing a few simple details. The council then assesses the chosen location, and if it is suitable, arrangements will be made to plant a tree the following winter, which is the best time to plant young trees to ensure they grow and thrive.
By donating time and water to care for street trees, people will be contributing to a legacy for their community. It’s also a great opportunity to chat with neighbours, and enjoy the fresh air these trees provide.
Cllr Eddie Lavery, Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Housing and Regeneration, said: “We’re delighted to be pioneering this brilliant new scheme, which will give residents a real sense of pride and ownership over the appearance of their streets.
“We’re lucky to live in a verdant, leafy borough but as we look to address the challenges of the climate emergency it’s vital we do more to counter the effects of global warming.
“Increasing the number of trees on our streets will help clean the air, reduce local carbon dioxide emissions, aid local biodiversity and of course, keep our streets visually appealing.”
Simeon Linstead, Project Director of Trees for Streets explains further: “Trees for Streets enables residents to work with their local councils to make a difference to the world immediately on their doorstep, through a combination of technology and local engagement.
“We want to inspire and empower the local community to take a leading role in greening the streets of this borough.”
For more information visit their website at https://sponsor.treesforstreets.org/provider/hillingdon-borough.
