Hounslow Council Offering Free Trees To Residents |
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Initiative to coincide with National Tree Planting Week in November Hounslow Council is to give 500 free trees to residents starting this November. The initiative is part of the Council’s commitment to plant a tree for each child born in the borough each year. Hounslow borough residents will be able to collect a free tree to plant in their own garden. To receive their free tree, residents must register their interest here with the trees to be given out at three collection events (all 10am-2pm): • Sunday 28th November: Dukes Meadows, Chiswick The November event will coincide with National tree planting week, the UK’s largest annual tree celebration, which takes place between 27 November – 5 December, marking the start of the winter tree planting season. The trees will be potted plants or bare rooted and will range from 40cm-80cm in height. The species have been selected in line with the character of the borough in terms of its existing trees, and by suitability for the soil conditions across the area. Tree species available are: Field Maple, Serviceberry, Hawthorn, Hazel, Beech, Swedish Whitebeam and Hornbeam – there are also fruit tree species on offer: Apple (Cox’s Orange Pippin, Laxton’s Superb and Bramley), Fig, Plum Victoria and Pear (Doyenne du Comice and Beurre Hardy). The Council says it planted 4,500 trees in parks and roadsides in 2020-21 and plans to continue planting trees across the borough including Christmas trees in prominent places in each ward and in each of the five main Town Centres. Plans also include improving grass verges by planting wildflowers and expanding no mow periods. Hounslow declared a Climate Emergency in July 2019 and as part of its Climate Emergency Action Plan, introduced in the summer of 2020, the borough is committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions across the Council by 2030. Hounslow says it has seen wider borough emissions reduced by 55.9 kilotonnes of CO2 since 2017, while recycling rates have also increased from 29.9% to 35.3%. Cllr Samia Chaudhary, Hounslow Council Cabinet Member for Leisure Services said, “We have made an important commitment to plant a tree for every child born in the borough and aim to continue planting across Hounslow to increase canopy cover to mitigate the impacts of climate change. The scheme is intended to inspire community action by involving residents of all ages, so they collectively create a sustainable cleaner and greener future for the borough. Tree planting is an immensely rewarding activity which promotes health and well-being as well as pride and ownership within the community.”
October 1, 2021
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