Thousands more trees to be planted in Merton in 2022

· by · in Environment and Regeneration. ·

Merton Council will plant a tree for every child born in the borough in support of the Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) tree planting initiative. 

The Queen’s Green Canopy is a unique scheme that invites people and organisations from across the United Kingdom to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee” to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee (70 years of service) in 2022. 

With up to 3,000 children born in in Merton every year, the council’s aim is to honour this special anniversary by planting 3,000 trees across the borough. 

And in addition to the Queens Green Canopy scheme, the council has secured 1,340 new trees from the Forestry Commission Urban Tree Challenge Fund, which will help make the borough even greener.  

These trees will be planted throughout Merton, with the first round of planting taking place in Morden Park on 25 February, where 400 whips will be planted over two days.  

The Urban Tree Challenge Fund started last year and is part of the Government’s Nature for Climate Fund, supporting the planting of 44,000 large ‘standard’ trees across the country between now and 2023. 

Merton Council’s Cabinet Member for Local Environment and Green Spaces, Councillor Natasha Irons said: “I am delighted that we are supporting the Queen’s Green Canopy in the borough and will contribute to the creation of a green legacy in honour of The Queen’s historic platinum jubilee.  

“Our Tree for Every Child project is an ambitious tree-planting target, matched with our successful bid to the Urban Tree Challenge, means we will plant over 4,000 trees this year. Trees not only make our streets and open spaces even more beautiful and green, but they are also vital to making the air around us cleaner to breathe whilst improving health and wellbeing.” 

The council is currently developing a Tree Management Strategy for Council-Owned Trees and residents’ views and knowledge are vital to the process. To take part in the consultation, visit the Merton Council website. The consultation end date is 28 February 2022. 

ENDS 

Current list of tree planting sites: 

·      Abbey Rec 

·      Donnelly Green 

·      Moreton Green 

·      Morden Park 

·      Ravensbury Park 

·      Rowan Road Recreation Ground 

·      Rowan Park 

·      Figges Marsh 

·      Cherry Tree Open Space 

·      London Road Playing Fields 

·      Stanford Rec 

·      Pollards Hil Rec