30 new trees to revitalise Cherry Tree Avenue
Work has now begun on a new environmental improvement project that will see a new avenue of cherry trees planted in King George’s Park.
Thirty new trees are to be planted to restore and revitalise one of the park’s oldest and best loved features - its cherry tree avenue.
The new trees will complement some of the avenue’s existing trees and fill in gaps where trees have died in the past. Others will be used to replace dying or decayed trees that need to be removed.
The King George’s Park project is in addition to a wider tree planting programme over the winter.
Since November, 1,000 new trees have been planted along the borough’s residential roads and in town centres. More were planted in parks and housing estates.
Species included London plane, cherry, lime, pear, crab apple, rowan, oak, hazel, whitebeam, maple, hornbeam and birch.
Between 2008 and 2012 the council planted nearly 2,000 street trees across the borough.
There are now more than 15,000 growing in Wandsworth and another 60,000 that thrive in the borough’s parks commons and open spaces.
Jerry Birtles, the council’s chief parks officer said: “We’re very keen to renew the avenue in King Georges’ Park so that future generations can enjoy it as we have done.
“The existing avenue is now quite old and it will be sad to see some of the older trees removed, but where they are decaying or coming to the end of their natural lifespan, it’s in the best interest of the park to remove them and plant new trees that can be there for many years to come.”
The work in King George’s Park is being carried out in partnership with Thames Water, who are paying for the new trees and the cost of planting them, as part of its community investment around the work on the Thames Tideway Tunnel.
Environment spokesman Cllr Jonathan Cook said: “This winter has seen a big expansion in tree planting across the whole of Wandsworth. Many residential areas are benefiting from this welcome extra greenery.
“As well as making our residential areas and town centres look much more attractive, the trees also offer great habitats for birds, bees and other types of wildlife.
“Wandsworth has a long standing reputation for being one of London’s greenest boroughs."
March 18, 2014