What’s going on
Big Tree Plant in Marylebone
Local businesses and communities continue to improve the local streets of Marylebone by planting more street trees. As part of the W1W Tree Planting Initiative, supported by The Big Tree Plant, the latest tree planting on Great Portland Street was completed on the 15th May.
The W1W Tree Planting Initiative received £10,000 funding from The Big Tree Plant to plant 240 trees in Marylebone. Since 2009, W1W Tree Planting Initiative have planted over 600 trees in the local neighbourhood with the help of local people.
David Heath, Minister for Forestry joined Westminster City Councillor Jonathan Glanz, members of W1W Tree Planting Initiative and kids from St Vincent’s Marylebone to plant a beautiful liquid amber tree just near Oxford Street.
David Heath said:
“This is a fantastic project that has inspired local residents, businesses and Westminster Council to work together to plant more street trees in central London.
“We all benefit from having more trees in our cities and we‟re well on target to deliver one million trees by 2015. I‟m very pleased to see the Big Tree Plant support projects like this.”
Big Tree Plant Research
Have you enquired about applying to The Big Tree Plant but decided not to apply? Have you applied for funding from The Big Tree Plant or similar tree planting or community focused scheme? If yes, then we would like to hear from you!
The Silvanus Trust, in partnership with Plymouth University, is carrying out research into The Big Tree Plant on behalf of Defra. If you enquired to The Big Tree Plant but didn’t go on to apply, put in an application (whether successful or unsuccessful in securing funding) or didn’t apply to The Big Tree Plant but did apply to other tree planting or community focused schemes we’d really like you to part in this survey.
If you take part in the survey you will be given the opportunity to enter a free prize draw to win £250 worth of tree/tree planting/management or inspection advice!
For more information visit the Silvanus Trust website.
On track to plant one million new neighbourhood trees in England
Two years on and the Government’s £4 million Big Tree Plant has seen over 239,000 trees planted across the country with £3.4 million of the funding already allocated to 128 groups who will be planting more than 813,000 trees.
The Big Tree Plant, launched by Defra and the Forestry Commission in 2010, is supported by a number of partner organisations and will see a million new trees planted predominantly in towns, cities and neighbourhoods by 2015.
On a visit to the Mount Stewart Junior School in Kenton, David Heath MP, Minister for Forestry met with Year 4 students planting fruit trees with Trees for Cities.
David Heath said, “The Big Tree Plant is an opportunity for everyone to help make neighbourhoods attractive and healthy places to live. It’s wonderful to see young people learning to plant and care for trees.
“The Big Tree Plant has been embraced by communities across the country and has proved to be a highly successful partnership between Government, civil society partners and conservation organisations including Trees for Cities.
“Seventy percent of trees in The Big Tree Plant programme will be planted in England’s most deprived areas.”
- Read more (Defra news release)
How to identify and help prevent the spread of Ash dieback disease
Ash dieback disease is affecting woodland in Britain. The disease is not harmful to people or animals, but it can kill ash trees.
The Forestry Commission has created a two minute video on how to identify Chalara ash dieback in the field.
The main symptoms of ash dieback are:
- Dead branches
- Blackening of leaves which often hang on the tree
- Discoloured stems often in a diamond-shape where a leaf was attached
If you see these symptoms:
- Double check them at www.forestry.gov.uk/chalara
- Report them to the helpline: 08459 335577
The Forestry Commission’s Advice to forest visitors provides a list of simple precautions you can take if you are visiting an infected or suspected wood.
For comprehensive information about Ash dieback disease visit the Forestry Commission website.
The Big Tree Plant Funding Scheme
Act now – don’t delay!
The next application deadline will be at 17.00 hrs on 15 March 2013. Start planning your project now!
Get inspired by some of the stories from other tree-planting groups
You can find details of local projects and events on The Tree Council website.
Further information
Planted a tree?
Big tree Plant Toolkit
Presented by Defra in partnership with
