Almost 2,000 tree saplings will be planted in neighbourhoods
across the region over the coming months as part of efforts to
grow the tree population to help tackle climate change.
As the new tree planting season gets underway, the West Midlands
Combined Authority (WMCA) is again working with the Woodland
Trust to provide saplings of native species to be planted in
gardens, community spaces, schools, and at other nature sites.
Mayor braved Storm Darragh at the
weekend with Coventry MP to help plant some of the 200
new saplings at the Tree Sanctuary in Coventry.
The Tree Sanctuary, in Potters Green, was created by a group of
local tree campaigners and is home to the teenage Tree Amigos who
rescue vandalised, damaged and unwanted trees and nurse them back
to health. The group plant those back out in permitted community
spaces.
It is one of ten groups who have already been given more than 700
saplings as part of the giveaway launched to coincide with the
start of this year's planting season.
Saplings have also been donated to Holyhead Road Allotments,
RSPCA and Talking Birds, all in Coventry; Kingstanding
Regeneration Trust, Stechford Pocket Park and Fircroft College in
Birmingham; Willenhall Memorial Park in Walsall; GKN-Ramgarhia
Board Sikh Temple in Wolverhampton; Friar Park Millenium Centre
in Sandwell.
The Mayor said: “Planting nearly 2,000 trees will make a real
difference to local communities, creating greener spaces for
families to enjoy and improving air quality for everyone.
“I'm committed to delivering a cleaner, healthier region,
and this tree-planting programme is just one way we're working to
tackle climate change while making our neighbourhoods better
places to live.”
Martina Irwin, co-founder of the Tree Sanctuary, said: “Trees
bring people together, whatever the weather and we were thrilled
to have received the saplings for planting and to welcome our
Mayor and MP to share our passion for tree preservation and
planting in Coventry.
“Most of the saplings now have their roots in the ground, with
some given to other local people. We look forward to seeing them
thrive for the benefit of future generations.”
said: “As the UK's Forestry
minister I'm clear that we need more trees across the country to
shade us in summer, to protect us from flooding and to store
carbon.
“So, it was great to visit the Tree Amigos' tree sanctuary to see
how they recycle, preserve and restore injured trees to health.
It is a real community initiative, bringing partners together
with one simple goal - to help our precious wildlife thrive in
Coventry.”
The WMCA is leading efforts to grow the current population of
five million trees by encouraging residents and businesses to
register the trees they have planted on the Virtual Forest.
The number of new trees registered since 2020 is now approaching
650,000.
Residents and community groups can register an interest in
saplings or hosting a tree giveaway event in their area at
www.wmca.org.uk/campaigns/forest-partnership/.
