Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has called on the capital’s residents to participate in tree planting activities for National Tree Week.
Around 30 tree planting events are planned throughout London during National Tree Week, which will take place from 23 November to 1 December. City Hall is set to partner with community volunteering charity TCV and urban tree planting charity Trees For Cities, to host a number of days where volunteers will be invited to plant trees: London, the world’s first National Park City, aims to increase its overall tree canopy by 10% by 2050.
London’s City Hall has committed to supporting the Orchard Project, a UK-wide charity which supports the development of community orchards; and has offered to provide free fruit trees to up to 20 community groups aiming to start their own local orchard. City Hall has also provided funding for Community Tree Planting Grants to support the planting of 40,000 trees: residents will plant a further 60,000 during National Tree Week, with events including:
- In partnership with the Woodland Trust and the People’s Postcode Lottery, 30,000 trees will be distributed to 15,000 Londoners chosen by ballot, for planting in their home gardens;
- 25,000 trees have been granted to schools and community groups throughout the city, aimed at increasing the number of trees in urban parks and green spaces, as well as building new hedgerows around London; and
- A further 5,000 trees will be made available across London during National Tree Week for residents to collect and plant.
Shirley Rodrigues, Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, said: “It’s fantastic to see so many Londoners, community groups, charities, schools and others coming together to plant thousands of trees, [which will form] part of the 100,000 that will be planted this winter with City Hall support. We’re urging thousands of Londoners to roll up their sleeves and get involved in a local planting event to not only make their communities a more beautiful place, but improve health and wellbeing for all.”
