The Mayor of Cambridge joined members of the community this week (Wednesday 28 January) to plant the latest addition to the city’s growing urban forest, as part of Cambridge City Council’s ‘Trees For Peace’ project.

A small ceremony saw the Mayor, Cllr Dinah Pounds, help to plant an oriental beech tree (fagus orientalis) at Christ’s Pieces in the city centre along with residents, including Andrii Smytsniuk from the Cambridge4Ukraine group, plus councillors and council officers. 

This was one of 14 trees being planted across the city this month as part of the programme. The oriental beech is noted for its dense foliage and strong, enduring form and has been celebrated for representing longevity, stability and wisdom.

Trees for Peace is a new annual community planting project which will see 14 trees planted each year – mirroring Cambridge’s 14 wards – to symbolise the city and the council’s commitment to peace, and the ongoing work to foster peaceful, inclusive, empowered and connected communities here.

Residents’ groups are taking part in a number of Trees For Peace planting events in parks and open spaces across the city during January, one of the best months for planting young trees, and will help look after them as they grow. 

There are more than 240,000 trees in Cambridge with different landowners responsible for their upkeep, including the council, other local authorities, universities, private households and businesses. Over recent years the council has planted thousands of trees in public spaces around the city and continues to do so.

Until 10 February the council is asking people to take part in its consultation on a new Urban Forest Strategy, which sets out how the council plans to protect, manage and expand the city’s trees and canopy cover in the coming years.

Cllr Martin Smart, Cabinet Member for Nature, Open Spaces and City Services, said: “Trees For Peace is a wonderful project which symbolises how people in Cambridge can work together to help everyone in our vibrant and diverse communities to flourish, now and long into the future.

“This is another way in which we’re adding to our much-valued urban forest, which help gives Cambridge its unique character and also plays an increasingly important role in increasing the city’s biodiversity, improving air quality and reducing the impact of climate change.”