Published 27th November 2020

With national tree week starting tomorrow, we would like to remind residents they can help increase the number of trees in the town by planting in their gardens.

National tree week is between 28 November and 6 December and is designed to highlight the start of the winter tree planting season, which runs from November through to March.

In Southend more than 5,000 whips (young trees), and 600 standard trees were planted in parks, open spaces and highways across the Borough last year, as part of the Council’s revitalised tree planting programme introduced by the Labour-led administration soon after coming to power last year. The trees were a mixture of species including Birch, Cherry, Sycamore, Pine and some more unusual ones such as Kentucky Coffee, Tree Privet and Pecan Tree. The council will also be planting hundreds more whips over this coming winter.

Residents can also do their bit to help boost the number of trees in the town by planting a tree in their own garden. There are specific trees which are suitable for smaller gardens and the council wants to help local people increase tree coverage in their communities by providing further details of how this can be done. Residents can visit the council’s website for more information.

Our cabinet colleague Cllr Carole Mulroney, Member for Environment and Planning, said: “I am excited that we have already started this year’s planting, so we can continue with our commitment to increase tree canopy coverage across the borough which is all important. Everyone knows the importance that trees play in improving air quality, improving the local street scene, providing habitat for wildlife and creating a sense of pride, and we must ensure we continue to increase the number of trees and shrubs  in the borough.

“I know that many of our residents are very passionate when it comes to creating a green environment and now is the best time to remind you that you can help us increase coverage by planting a tree of your own in your garden. If local homeowners plant just one tree, alongside the council’s commitment to continue with its enhanced annual tree planting, we will see an increase in tree coverage across Southend-on-Sea.

“Before lockdown in March, we saw incredible community spirit at the local community planting sessions, where over 5,000 tree whips were planted in parks and open spaces across Southend-on-Sea and I’m keen to see this community spirit continue with home planting.

“This administration is committed to achieving its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. This can only be achieved if we as a Borough work together and planting more trees will go a long way to helping us achieve this goal.”

For more information on trees, including tree planting across the town and a guide on which trees can be planted in your own gardens, please visit www.southend.gov.uk/treeplanting

 

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