1,000 new trees are to be planted in Brighton by urban tree planting charity Trees for Cities’ in partnership with Brighton Paper Round and as part of Defra’s Big Tree Plant Campaign.

Trees for Cities and Paper Round who have been in partnership for 10 years, last week, held a planting ceremony to mark the planting of the first tree, an elm, on Western Road in Brighton Wednesday 22^nd February, which was attended by the Mayor of Brighton

Sharon Johnson the Chief Executive of Trees for Cities said: “We are very excited about this collaboration with Paper Round and think it will be a great way of highlighting the impact of the Big Tree Plant campaign through planting this ceremonial Street tree. This project also showcases the partnership element of the Campaign and Trees for Cities work – bringing together Trees for Cities, the business community, local people and the local council”

Of the 1,000 new trees, a small forest/copse will be created in Stanmer Park, a hedgerow in Vale Avenue and trees lost to disease in Surrenden Road will be replaced.  Individual larger canopy trees will be planted in Western Road. These trees will replace those lost to elm disease earlier in the year.

These trees will help improve the biodiversity of the city whilst beautifying the environment and helping raise awareness for the need to plant new trees in cities.

All media enquiries: lucyswan@margaretlondon.com / 0207 923 2861

2,000 new trees are to be planted at Parkway Playfields in Manchester by urban tree planting charity Trees for Cities in partnership with Red Rose Forest and as part of Defra’s Big Tree Plant Campaign.

The trees will include species such as oak, ash and birch and will be planted in Parkway Playing Fields near busy main road Princess Parkway on Tuesday 28th February 2012. Planting more trees in urban areas can help shield the Playing fields from traffic noise, reduce the risk of flooding and also limit the effects of air pollution and climate change.

Trees for Cities’ Chief Executive, Sharon Johnson said: “For the past 18 years Trees for Cities has been planting trees where they are most needed in cities, working with local partners and communities to improve the urban environment. Tree planting volunteer days like this are a great chance to get out and enjoy some fresh air, meet other members of the community where you live and work, and get in touch with nature. All we ask from our volunteers is that they are prepared to get stuck in and get their hands dirty! The volunteers’ support will inspire others and demonstrate that there is widespread enthusiasm for improving the urban spaces we all share.”

Red Rose Forest project officer, Vicky King said: “This is an exciting project to create a new area of woodland on a neglected area of green space. It will bring enormous benefits to the local community through the provision of a green oasis within easy walking distance of hundreds of homes.” News International employees will be volunteering to help plant some of these new trees.

For all media enquiries please contact lucyswan@margaretlondon.com 0207 923 2861.

Urban tree-planting charity Trees for Cities and Forest Schools Birmingham are working in partnership with Conway Primary School in Birmingham to create a Community Orchard within the school’s grounds as part of the Local Food scheme funded by The Big Lottery Fund.

School children from Conway Primary have been investigating whether fruit and vegetables on sale in shops are imported and comparing their findings to existing and possible local produce from within their community. They used this information to produce a global and local food map, on display in the main school reception.

The children have voted on what fruits they would like to plant and with a helping hand from community payback and other volunteers, the children are now planting the species of trees they have chosen.

Peggy Jones, teacher at Conway Primary School said:
“The orchard will provide a unique learning opportunity for children and the wider community over the coming years and will be loved by one and all.”

The official opening ceremony for Conway Community Orchard is on Friday 24th February at 11.00am. The day will involve the children in a traditional wassailing ceremony with music, poetry and Morris dancing, putting a modern twist on the ancient custom of visiting orchards and singing to promote good harvest.

Parents are also taking part in a recipe competition using the ingredients that will be growing in the school grounds. These recipes are being used to produce an orchard recipe book to promote the project within the community.

Sharon Johnson, Chief Executive of Trees for Cities, said:
“The Local Food scheme has given us a wonderful opportunity to extend and develop the work that Trees for Cities started with ‘edible playgrounds’ in 2009. It enables us to help more people improve and care for the local environment through the creation of growing food spaces and the planting of thousands of fruit and nut trees. Ultimately, we want to inspire other communities to use the knowledge and resources that we have developed to enable them to create and deliver their own food growing projects.”

Mark Wheddon, Local Food Programme Manager, said:

“Our programme is all about promoting the benefits of growing your own food, and the excellent work underway at Conway Primary School will do exactly that. As well as being fun for all involved, by inspiring future generations of food growers the project will have a lasting impact in the community, and we are delighted to support it.”

For more information on Trees for Cities and the work they do or for any media enquiries please get in touch with Lucy Swan lucyswan@margaretlondon.com / 0207 923 2861.

Trees for Cities to plant 1,000 new trees in Brighton 1,000 new trees are to be planted in Brighton by urban tree planting charity Trees for Cities’ in partnership with Brighton Paper Round and as part of Defra’s Big Tree Plant Campaign.

Of the 1,000 new trees, a small forest/copse will be created in Stanmer Park, a hedgerow in Vale Avenue and trees lost to disease in Surrenden Road will be replaced. Individual larger canopy trees will be planted in Western Road.

These trees will replace those lost to elm disease earlier in the year. Trees for Cities and Paper Round have been in partnership for 10 years and are holding a unique event including a tree planting ceremony on Western Road in Brighton Wednesday 22nd February (3pm-6pm).

Sharon Johnson the Chief Executive of Trees for Cities said: “We are very excited about this collaboration with Paper Round and think it will be a great way of highlighting the impact of the Big Tree Plant campaign through planting this ceremonial Street tree. This project also showcases the partnership element of the Campaign and Trees for Cities work – bringing together Trees for Cities, the business community, local people and the local council”

These trees will help improve the biodiversity of the city whilst beautifying the environment and helping raise awareness for the need to plant new trees in cities.

All media enquiries: lucyswan@margaretlondon.com / 0207 923 2861