Neighbourhood watch for trees in Leeds

Nature lovers in Leeds are being urged to help protect their local environment by taking part in a new '˜neighbourhood watch' scheme for trees.
A Generic Photo of beech tree in autumn. See PA Feature GARDENING Gardening Column. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/Thinkstockphotos. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature GARDENING Gardening Column.A Generic Photo of beech tree in autumn. See PA Feature GARDENING Gardening Column. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/Thinkstockphotos. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature GARDENING Gardening Column.
A Generic Photo of beech tree in autumn. See PA Feature GARDENING Gardening Column. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/Thinkstockphotos. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature GARDENING Gardening Column.

The Woodland Trust is launching the Street Trees scheme across the country after a successful pilot scheme in Leeds, along with Wrexham and Glasgow.

People can join forces with their neighbours and apply for one of 500 Street Trees celebration starter kits which include bunting, badges and wheelie-bin transfers to show an appreciation for their trees.

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The scheme has been funded through a £500k grant from the People’s Postcode Lottery. It aims to encourage people to look after threatened trees on their doorstep after a recent report showed councils are felling more than 50 trees a day nationwide.

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Joseph Coles, Project Lead for Street Trees, said: “Street trees face unprecedented threats. Be it climate change, tree disease, development or council budgets. However, they bring a huge array of benefits to people – from recreation to combating pollution. With 80 per cent of the UK’s people living in urban settlements, street trees are their main daily contact with nature. If we are to keep people connected with nature we need to preserve it on their doorsteps.

“Through the Street Trees project, thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery, we will connect people with the trees closest to them, offering them the tools and resources to both celebrate and protect them, while raising awareness at the highest levels that street trees are valuable and worth investing in and preserving. People need to demand that their trees are respected and protected.”

Visit www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/streetrees to claim your Street Trees pack.