CAMBRIDGE residents have hit a milestone achievement, after sponsoring over 100 trees under the national not-for-profit Trees for Streets scheme which was only introduced in the city last year.
Cambridge City Council was the first UK city council to join the scheme, which makes it easy for residents to sponsor new trees in their streets and local parks across the city.
Residents have welcomed the scheme, and many have already sponsored trees to be planted in street verges and parks within their communities, with a diverse variety of trees being chosen to support biodiversity. Sponsored tree types planted to date include Hop Hornbeam, Flowering Cherry, Crab Apple, Nettle Tree, Turkish Hazel, Alder, Birch, Thorn, Lime, Field Maple, Callery Pear, and Indian Bean Tree.
The Cambridge Trees for Streets scheme is still open, and under the scheme, residents can sponsor a tree for £100 (if they are able to commit to watering the tree) or for £200 (if they would like the council’s support in watering the tree).
Planting more trees in the city’s streets and open spaces is beneficial for capturing carbon, producing oxygen, improving mental and physical health, absorbing air pollution, improving air quality and creating shaded areas.
The council’s vison for the city’s treescape is to maximise these benefits, while ensuring that the trees we leave for future generations, and the character they bring to our city, are better than those we have inherited.
By partnering with Trees for Streets, the council has provided an additional avenue for residents, businesses, and other local organisations to be able to support this vision and help us develop the city’s tree canopy and achieve the target of increasing its canopy cover by 2% by 2050.
Cllr Alex Collis, Executive Councillor for Open Spaces, Food Justice and Community Development, said: “Across the city, this has been a well-received scheme. For many residents, this has been an opportunity to take the climate fight into their own hands and for some this has also presented as an opportunity to honour loved ones, friends, and important community figures.
“Trees play an important role in supporting the environment, biodiversity and in improving our health and wellbeing.
“All the residents that have already supported the scheme should be proud of themselves for helping to make a positive impact on the environment. We hope to see more residents take up the scheme over the winter period, so that we can take advantage of the planting season and hit the 200th tree milestone in 2023.”
Pablo, the very first person in Cambridge to sponsor a tree, back in March 2022, said: “Trees play a vital role in our environment, we need more on our streets. They are key to a healthier and greener neighbourhood.
“I also want to encourage wildlife to the street; my young son and I like to watch the squirrels and birds. This is a great initiative and will make such a difference to the community.”
For more information on the Trees for Streets scheme and how to get involved, visit: cambridge.gov.uk/sponsor-a-tree
