Community Tree Planting Grants 2019-20

The Chase Nature Reserve Hedges for Wildlife and Connectivity

Thames Chase Trust, working in partnership with the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and Friends of Eastbrookend Country Park, received £8,900 to plant 150 saplings and 20 larger oak trees at The Chase Nature Reserve in Dagenham.

The project extended an existing hedge and filled in gaps, working with 138 volunteers to use traditional hedgelaying techniques, creating a stock-proof hedge that creates connections between habitats.

"As a group the hedge laying project gives people a chance to learn new skills...the benefit to the site is obvious from seeing the result of last year's work. The learning of new skills means more of the group can participate more fully in future projects"

Steve Green, Thames Chase Conservation Volunteers

Barnet Parks Play Area Tree Planting

London Borough of Barnet received £24,743 to plant 67 semi-mature trees at Halliwick Recreation Ground and Malcolm Park.

The trees have been planted next to children's play areas to help create shade and reduce exposure to air pollution, including from the M1 next to Malcolm Park. The trees at Halliwick Recreation Ground also form part of the Japan Society's Sakura Cherry Tree Project.

Trees for Thamesmead

Peabody Trust, working in partnership with Groundwork London and North West Kent Countryside Partnership, received £32,000 to plant 4,029 trees across three sites in Thamesmead.

The project created a new woodland area in Birchmere Park, restored a community orchard at Crossway Park, and planted new trees next to Southmere Lake. 40 adult volunteers and 120 children took part in the project, with maintenance events planned later in the year.

TCV 60th Anniversary Tree Planting

The Conservation Volunteers (TCV), working in partnership with London Borough of Camden, West Hampstead Green Gym and Friends of Westbere Copse, received £15,773 to plant 3,200 tree saplings at the Westcroft Estate in West Hampstead.

The trees will form a 320m long native hedge, which were planted at a special event to celebrate TCV's 60th anniversary during National Tree Week 2019.

Trees for People

London Borough of Croydon received £9,853 to plant 80 trees across eight sheltered accommodation and social housing sites across the borough.

Trees were planted at Ashburton Memorial Homes, Brookhurst Court, Davidson Lodge, Freeman Court, Gordon Crescent, Sevenoaks House, Tonbridge House and Cherry Tree Green.

Through resident involvement with the planting at Cherry Tree Green, a new Friends of Sanderstead Recreation Ground group has been formed, which is planning further tree planting next year.

Upper Norwood Recreation Ground Tree Planting

London Wildlife Trust received £5,796 to plant 30 trees at Upper Norwood Recreation Ground. They were planted with the help of 50 adult volunteers, and children from a local school and Scout group.

The new trees will help to form stepping stones between fragments of the Great North Wood, including adjacent Convent Wood.

"It was really nice to work in small groups and was conducive to a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. I learnt as much about my fellow volunteers as I did about planting trees. It also provided me with a new appreciation of the local area - I would definitely return to the recreation ground. Overall, it was a productive and incredibly rewarding experience"

Mir Singhvi, project volunteer

Ealing Common and Environs

London Borough of Ealing, working in partnership with the Ealing Common Society, received £28,750 to plant 115 trees on Ealing Common, supported by a further 60 trees on neighbouring streets. The trees will improve the sense of place and increase canopy cover on the common.

Ravenor Park and Environs

London Borough of Ealing received £18,750 to plant 75 trees in Ravenor Park in Greenford, supported by a further 50 trees on neighbouring streets. The trees will increase species diversity and enhance this valuable park.

South Acton Recreation Ground and Environs

London Borough of Ealing received £11,250 to plant 30 trees in South Action Recreation Ground, supported by 70 trees on neighbouring streets.The trees will improve the sense of place and enhance canopy cover on this green oasis next to the North Circular Road.

Apples in Abbey Wood

The Royal Borough of Greenwich has been awarded £14,500 to plant 120 orchard trees across three sites in Abbey Wood.

The project worked with local residents to create community orchards at Abbey Wood Park, Finchdale Road, Bostall Gardens and Flowers Estate. 75 children from Alexander McLeod Primary School and St. Thomas A Becket Primary School helped to plant the trees.

Increasing Eltham's Tree Cover

Friends of Avery Hill Park, working in partnership with Royal Borough of Greenwich, Friends of Queenscroft Park, Friends of Well Hall Pleasaunce and Friends of Eltham Parks, received £5,720 to plant 180 saplings and 52 large trees across five green spaces in Eltham.

The trees were planted in Avery Hill Park, Queenscroft Park, Well Hall Pleasaunce, Eltham Green and Eltham Park South. 150 volunteers, including 45 children took part in planting days in November 2019.

"This was an exciting project involving five separate locations across a heavily populated area. The tree planting will be seen by large numbers of people as they pass or walk in the parks. The parks are used by substantial numbers of people who have expressed their enthusiasm and appreciation of the additional trees. It was excellent to have the involvement of four separate parks friends group, scouts and local volunteers in implementing the project"

John Webb, Chair, Friends of Avery Hill Park

Trees of Time and Place

London Borough of Hackney, working in partnership with the Tree Musketeers and local park user groups, has been awarded £48,269 to plant 200 trees across 38 parks in Hackney. The trees will be planted as succession planting, aiming to improve air quality, reduce flooding, support wildlife and increase canopy cover.

Urban Play Orchard

Queensbridge Primary School received £37,714 to plant 31 trees in their school playground in Haggerston. The project created a playable orchard, removing hard surfacing to create 650 square metres of new green space. It is part of a wider project to green the school grounds for wildlife, natural play and learning. 150 adults and over 500 children took part in the project.

"The Urban Play Orchard is a vital resource for teachers and pupils to be able to experience a slice of nature in the middle of London. It is convenient to have such a useful resource for practical lessons on site. The opportunity for children to play with and learn from trees is something that many do not have the resources for or outdoor space to do at home"

Danielle Cline, Science Co-ordinator, Queensbridge Primary School

Alexandra Park - Heritage and Biodiversity Planting Scheme

Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust, working in partnership with Friends of Alexandra Park, The Conservation Volunteers and John O'Conner (Grounds Maintenance) Ltd, received £15,540 to plant 1,000 saplings and 38 larger trees in Alexandra Park.

The project included restoring historic avenues and remnant hedgerows, as well as planting new signature trees. 78 volunteers took part in planting days, and were also encouraged to sign up to a new "tree champions" programme.

"It's been a joy mucking in (literally) with a great team whose collective efforts made a difference. With multiple tasks to be achieved from staking trees to shovelling mulch and serving welcome refreshments, we all played our part. I’m proud to have been involved in this brilliant and worthwhile scheme. I’ve learned so much and met a lovely crowd whilst helping to establish the beautiful new trees and hedging that are poised to burst into growth"

Project volunteer

Greening Finsbury Park

London Borough of Haringey received £9,423 to plant 50 trees in Finsbury Park.

The trees have filled in gaps in canopy cover alongside Seven Sisters Road to help create a barrier between the park and traffic, improving air quality in the park. 20 local residents took part in planting days.

"Not only did we feel good about planting trees, we enjoyed the fresh air, bonded together as a team and engaged with the community, the parks staff and the councillors attending"

Katy Harker, Registrate in Public Health, London Borough of Haringey

Greening Haringey HFH Estates

London Borough of Haringey, working in partnership with Homes for Haringey, received £10,000 to plant 40 trees across nine social housing sites.

Trees were planted at The Sandlings in Noel Park, Lordship Lane, Vincent Square, Trinity Road, Granville Road and Parkland Road in Wood Green, Corbett Grove in Bounds Green, Wall Court and Stapleton Hall Road in Stroud Green.

Newton Park and Brockley Hill

London Borough of Harrow received £27,051 to plant 168 saplings and 61 large trees across two open spaces: Newton Park in Harrow and Brockley Hill in Stanmore.

12 adult volunteers and 30 children from Newton Farm School took part in planting days. The trees will support active travel routes and actively involve the local community.

"The Newton Farm tree planting project has been a great experience for our children who are passionate about protecting our environment. It was great for the pupils to work with other local passionate individuals and community groups to develop and improve the ecology park next door to our school"

Matt Bradley, Headteacher, Newton Farm School

Thames Chase Community Tree Nursery

Thames Chase Trust, working in partnership with Land of the Fanns, Thames Chase Conservation Volunteers, local authorities and Forestry England, received £19,525 to re-establish a community tree nursery at the Thames Chase Forest Centre. 799 trees have been grown in the nursery over the winter.

The nursery will aim to supply locally grown tree stock for planting projects in the community forest, and provide a centre for education and community engagement.

Hillingdon Tree Planting Project

London Borough of Hillingdon, working in partnership with London Wildlife Trust, received £8,436 to plant 77 trees across six parks in the borough.

Trees have been planted at Barra Hall Park, Harmondsworth Recreation Ground, Yiewsley Recreation Ground, Fairway Recreation Ground, Northwood Recreation Ground and Stonefield Park.

Leitrim and Pevensey: Community Orchard and Wet Woodland

London Borough of Hounslow, working in partnership with Greenspace 360 and Pevensey Road Green Gym Rangers Team, received £10,747 to plant 66 trees at two sites in Feltham. The project created a community orchard at Leitrim Park, and enhanced the wet woodland at Pevensey Road Nature Reserve.

Young people from West Thames College will be involved in the management of the site, developing new skills in landscaping and tree care.

Trees 4 Grenfell

Just Solutions 123 have been awarded £14,600 to plant 10 trees as part of their Trees 4 Grenfell project, which is planting trees in North Kensington to honour the victims of the Grenfell fire. Planting will take place around their community managed Hope Gardens next to the Westway.

Trees and Hedges for Healthier Lives

The Tree Council, working in partnership with Merton Tree Warden Network, and London Borough of Sutton, has been awarded £15,604 to plant 1,630 saplings and 45 larger trees across three sites in Merton and Sutton.

Trees and hedges have been planted at Figges Marsh and Ravensbury Park in Mitcham, and Beddington Park in Wallington. 222 adult volunteers and 31 children took part across a series of planting events. The trees will be maintained by local tree wardens.

"The Friends of Figges Marsh came together enthusiastically with other community groups and local residents to plant trees, a hedge, and two copses in Figges Marsh. We enjoyed learning new skills and working with our neighbours to produce something that will be appreciated long into the future. The new plantings are a real asset to the park, the environment and the community"

Friends of Figges Marsh

Beckton Park Woodland Creation Project

Trees for Cities, working in partnership with London Borough of Newham, have been awarded £40,539 to plant 9,000 trees in Beckton District Park South, extending the existing woodland belt around the park.

423 adults and 142 children took part in the project, including the community planting day on 30 November 2019, which was the flagship event of National Tree Week in London.

"The children from Winsor Primary School Council made a difference to their local community by helping plant trees in order to build up a greener woodland area in Beckton District Park...they were keen to find out and share their knowledge on trees and the environment, Our School Council asre now inspired to create a small woodland area on the school field"

Pauline Guevara, Winsor Primary School

Goodmayes Park Woodland Creation

Trees for Cities, working in partnership with London Borough of Redbridge, and Vision Redbridge Culture & Leisure, received £42,448 to plant 15,000 trees at Goodmayes Park and Goodmayes Recreation Ground in Ilford.

The project has extended a previously planted area to create a new urban woodland. 592 adults and 319 children took part in planting events, including a community planting day during National Tree Week.

Barley Lane Community Tree Planting

Trees for Cities, working in partnership with London Borough of Redbridge, received £17,500 to plant 40 trees in Barley Lane in Ilford.

The project enhanced the park with the aim of encouraging local people to spend more time there. 144 adults and 246 children took part in the project through a series of planting days and workshops.

"The best thing about planting trees has been the atmosphere, local involvement and having a real connection with my local park"

Community planting day volunteer

Redbridge National Tree Week Project - Phase 2

London Borough of Redbridge received £12,463 to plant 50 trees at nine schools and two residential sites across the borough.

Trees were planted at Barley Lane Primary School, Coppice Primary School, Cranbrook Primary School, Fairlop Primary School, Manford Primary School, Mayespark Primary School, Nightingale Primary School, Parkhill Junior School, St Peter and St Paul's RC Primary School, Walnut Close, and Kestrel and Merlin Close. 113 adults and 1,370 children from local schools took part in planting days.

"I never planted a tree before and I never thought I would. I guess some people would describe it as my first experience. I must say that it was wonderful. From witnessing the machinery to putting the soil in to the ground. I was excited, but never did I think I would be this thrilled"

Year 5 teacher, Cranbrook School

Dulwich Park Community Tree Planting

Dulwich Park Friends, working in partnership with Idverde, the Dulwich Society and the Orchard Project, received £3,493 to plant 13 trees in Dulwich Park.

25 adult volunteers and 10 children took part in tree planting days.

"I was very happy to have been able to plant some trees in Dulwich Park at the end of November. I live locally and have walked my dogs, children and now grandchildren in the park for many years, and it was a good positive experience to have actually planted a number of trees in the park. It has led me to signing up with a volunteer group to look after the maintenance of a newly planted orchard in Dulwich Village and also to take an interest in the orchard in Dulwich Park where we added several fruit trees"

Paul, project volunteer

St Helier, The Wrythe and Tweedale Orchards

Wrythe Memorial Events, working in partnership with Tweedale Primary School and St Hellier Music and Community Festival, received £12,000 to plant 45 trees at two sites in Sutton.

The project has created two community orchards, providing fruit trees for local residents. 20 adults, and 60 children from Tweedale School helped to plant the trees.

"It was lovely to see the trees at the Wrythe being planted. I attended with my daughter and grandchildren. I have known this area for nearly 40 years and am pleased to see it being used for the community"

Project volunteer

Manor Park Community Trees

Manor Park Friends Group received £7,834 to plant 31 larger trees and 25 saplings in Manor Park. The project has replaced an avenue previously lost to disease, and created a small orchard.

35 adults, and 25 children from Manor Park Primary School took part in volunteer planting days. Several new members have joined the friends group as a result.

"A brilliant and worthwhile experience was had at the tree planting day at Manor Park. Working with the team, young and old, was a pleasure. The attendance of children from Manor Park Primary added greatly to the fun"

Clive, Manor Park Friends Group volunteer

Jolly's Green Community Tree Planting

Trees for Cities, working in partnership with London Borough of Tower Hamlets, received £10,00 to plant 26 trees in Jolly's Green in Poplar, along with over 500 bulbs.

The project included planting an avenue along the main park pathway, and perimeter planting to screen the A12. 152 volunteers, including 60 children took part in planting events.

"The tree planting session was great fun; it was hands-on and interactive. The session was well-planned and pitched at exactly the right level for primary-aged children. It was great to contribute to our local community and the children learned about how important trees are for our ecosystem and our health"

Jennie, Gardener in Residence, Manorfield Primary School

Community Tree Planting Project

Waltham Forest Council, working in partnership with TCV and local park user groups, received £24,230 to plant 71 trees across 9 parks in the borough.

Pine trees were planted in Leyton Jubilee Park, Kitchener Road Park, Memorial Park, St James Park, Mansfield Park, Pimp Hall Park, Chase Lane Park, Drapers Field and Leyton Manor Park. 300 adults and 150 children took part in a series of planting events during National Tree Week.

"The trees are a lovely addition to the Park, we come here regularly with my in-laws. The girls will feel proud whenever we visit now, it gives them a real connection with nature and the area"

Community participant

Wandsworth Community Tree Planting

London Borough of Wandsworth, working in partnership with Enable Leisure and Culture, has been awarded £6,163 to plant 86 trees across ten sites in the borough.

Trees were planted at Tooting Commons, Furzedown Recreation Ground, Wandsworth Park, Christchurch Gardens, Battersea Park, Bramford Gardens, Wandsworth Common, Huguenot Burial Ground, The Pleasance and Fred Wells Gardens. 108 adults and 125 children took part in planting events, that were delivered in collaboration with local community groups.

"It was lovely to see our tree planted. Coronation Gardens is a small space, but an oasis of calm and the tree will bring colour and interest all year round. As a Friends Group it was brilliant to be acknowledged and be part of choosing the tree, it’s position in the Gardens and when it was planted"

Friends of Coronation Gardens

Interfaith Tree Planting Phase 3

The Faiths Forum for London received £45,000 to plant 108 trees across 21 London boroughs during 19-20 and 20-21, working in partnership with local faith organisations and communities, as well as local authorities and the Canal and River Trust. Planting events involved local residents, school children and faith groups, with 180 people involved.

"The Interfaith Tree planting project, funded by the Mayor of London, is much more than simply the planting of trees. It's about nature, collaboration and faith community cohesion. It also demonstrates the significance that trees play in all faiths"

Leonie Lewis, London Jewish Forum