Of the £10,000 provided by the Housing & Regeneration Department of our Council a total of £8,750 was spent on 15 new and 29 replacement trees on estates across H&F while 26 additional new trees were planted on housing estates in the central Hammersmith area funded by the Mayor of London. A further 6 new trees on the Clem Atlee Estate were funded by Aviva Insurance (as compensation for the removal of a line of mature poplars standing in Queens Club Gardens.)
The tree planting programme took place across the winter period and is now finished, with local contractors having spent a total of £10,000 - the remaining £1,250 from the original £10,000 having been used on the planting of scattered clumps of native whips (very small trees) and fruit trees.
All good stuff - as we're all noticing the sun makes a huge difference in how people seem to feel about themselves, and in an inner city borough like ours any green space is precious. One Councillor that clearly gets this is our old friend Cllr Harry Phibbs, who sent me the above details, and once invited you out on a tree walk around the borough. I disagree with much of the (mainly planning) decisions this Council takes but I have a lot of time for people like Harry, who clearly wants to spend time making a positive difference to people's surroundings. You don't get the big political credit for it a lot of the time, which is why many politicians don't really bother, but things like this really count. So well done him, and the Council.
Now then, when's this work on Bush Green going to be over with?!
Trees are great - but I hope that LBHF will tend these trees in their first year as this period is critical and is when most snuff it - which is a waste. In this time of drought it is important that trees are watered in their first year if conditions necessitate it. Six very expensive and interesting trees were planted by Westfield behind the Dimco buildings three years ago but were not maintained and died. Dull replacements there now. Dry springs have a huge effect on trees especially our poor street trees which are stressed at the best of times given how little rain can get through all the concrete and paving. Council should insist on porous paving in their planning framework for sustainable environment type stuff.
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