Tower Hamlets Council have exceeded their tree-planting goal by 45 per cent as part of their initiative to promote the value of trees across the borough.
Lutfur Rahman, the Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets, pledged £1 million to the project in 2022. Since then more than 1,400 trees have been planted, beating the borough’s objective of planting 1,000 trees within a three-year-period.
He celebrated the council’s progress in a statement saying: “I’m so proud that we have not only reached but exceeded our target of planting 1,000 new trees across the borough. Trees and greenery are vital to achieving a cleaner, greener borough.”
According to Tower Hamlets Tree Management Plan 2020-2025, one of Tower Hamlets’ main objectives is to promote the economic, social, and environmental importance and benefits of trees, and provide guides on how to plant trees correctly.
Earlier this year, Tower Hamlets was awarded as ‘Tree Cities of the World’, covered by EastLondonLines.
The new trees can be spotted all around the borough, with some 700 lining streets, more than 400 in parks and green spaces, and nearly 300 on housing estates.
Cllr Shafi Ahmed, the Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Emergency, said: “Trees have such an important role to play in beautifying our public spaces, making our streets and parks better for all. Trees also help to make our borough more resilient against climate change and improve air quality by absorbing pollutants such as carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide.
“We plan to go further – planting more trees, especially in areas that need more greenery and ensuring that all our residents can enjoy the health and environmental benefits that trees provide for us.”
In the last two years, a total of 3,427 trees have been planted in the borough, funded by different outlets, such as external grant funding, donations by local people through Trees for Streets, and the new National Street Tree Sponsorship scheme.
Simeon Linstead, the Project Director of Trees for Streets told EastLondonLines: “We were overjoyed to hear about the fantastic progress Tower Hamlets is making with its tree planting. Trees for Streets […] is delighted to play its part, by making it very straightforward for residents and local businesses to sponsor additional planting in local streets and parks.”
Rahman said some 200 trees are expected to be planted in the upcoming winter/spring planting season: “This £1m fund will continue to be used to green our borough – we expect over 200 additional new trees to be planted this winter and spring planting season with this dedicated fund.”
