Croydon Council is among the first local authorities in the UK to join Trees for Streets, the new national street tree sponsorship scheme.
Trees for Streets is a project by Trees for Cities, the national urban tree charity. It is funded by the government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund. It aims to support the planting of more than a quarter of a million street trees nationwide over the next ten years.
The Trees for Streets online platform is easy-to-use and means anyone can sponsor a street tree in their neighbourhood by making a donation, and completing a few simple details. A request is automatically sent to the council, who then assess the chosen location for suitability. If the chosen spot is appropriate, they will make arrangements to plant a tree the following winter: the best time to plant young trees to ensure they grow and thrive.
Why are street trees important?
Street trees deliver a whole host of benefits right outside your door –here’s what they do for us:
- capture carbon dioxide and produce oxygen
- improve our health and wellbeing – both physically and mentally
- absorb air pollution
- improve air quality by acting like natural filters
- protect us from flooding
- create shading and cooling – so important in towns and cities
- make the neighbourhoods where we live that bit nicer
Beyond sponsoring a tree, there are lots of other ways for you to get involved. Once each street tree is planted, it will need watering every week throughout the summer for 3 years to give it the best chance of survival, and any litter or weeds will need removing too, to make sure it thrives.
By donating your time (and water) to care for street trees, you’ll be contributing to a legacy for your community. It’s also a great opportunity to chat with neighbours, and enjoy the fresh air these trees provide.
Find out more: https://sponsor.treesforstreets.org/provider/croydon-borough
Dedication/Memorial Trees
Trees for Streets also offer Dedication or Memorial trees, which are planted in parks and open spaces.
You can sponsor a Dedication/Memorial tree in a selection of parks located across the borough.
A Dedication or Memorial tree can be used to mark the life of a loved one who has passed away, the birth of a child, an anniversary, can be given as a gift, or simply because you'd like to put something back into your community and your local environment.
It's a great way to celebrate or commemorate any significant life event. Or just because you love Croydon and would like to help plant more trees here.
Find out more: https://sponsor.treesforstreets.org/celebration/sponsor-a-celebration-tree-in-a-croydon-park/location
