Hundreds of new trees to be planted

Almost 2,000 trees will be planted in neighbourhoods across the region over the coming months as part of efforts to grow the tree population to help tackle climate change.

As the new tree planting season gets underway, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is again working with the Woodland Trust to provide saplings of native species to be planted in gardens, community spaces, schools, and at other nature sites.

Mayor Richard Parker braved Storm Darragh at the weekend with Coventry MP Mary Creagh to help plant some of the 200 new saplings at the Tree Sanctuary in Coventry.

The Tree Sanctuary, in Potters Green, was created by a group of local tree campaigners and is home to the teenage Tree Amigos who rescue vandalised, damaged and unwanted trees and nurse them back to health. The group plant those back out in permitted community spaces.

It is one of ten groups who have been given more than 700 saplings as part of the giveaway launched to coincide with the start of this year’s planting season.

Saplings have also been donated to Holyhead Road Allotments, RSPCA and Talking Birds, all in Coventry; Growth Parh (previously known as Kingstanding Regeneration Trust), Stechford Pocket Park and Fircroft College in Birmingham; Willenhall Memorial Park in Walsall; GKN-Ramgarhia Board Sikh Temple in Wolverhampton; Friar Park Millenium Centre in Sandwell.

The Mayor said: “Planting nearly 2,000 trees will make a real difference to local communities, creating greener spaces for families to enjoy and improving air quality for everyone.

 “I’m committed to delivering a cleaner, healthier region, and this tree-planting programme is just one way we’re working to tackle climate change while making our neighbourhoods better places to live.”

Martina Irwin, co-founder of the Tree Sanctuary, said: “Trees bring people together, whatever the weather and we were thrilled to have received the saplings for planting and to welcome our Mayor and MP to share our passion for tree preservation and planting in Coventry.

“Most of the saplings now have their roots in the ground, with some given to other local people. We look forward to seeing them thrive for the benefit of future generations.”

Mary Creagh said: “As the UK’s Forestry minister I’m clear that we need more trees across the country to shade us in summer, to protect us from flooding and to store carbon.

“So, it was great to visit the Tree Amigos’ tree sanctuary to see how they recycle, preserve and restore injured trees to health. It is a real community initiative, bringing partners together with one simple goal - to help our precious wildlife thrive in Coventry.”

The WMCA is leading efforts to grow the current population of five million trees by encouraging residents and businesses to register the trees they have planted on the Virtual Forest.

The number of new trees registered since 2020 is now approaching 650,000.

Residents and community groups can register an interest in saplings or hosting an event in their area on the WMCA website.