THE QUEEN’S GREEN CANOPY – 10,000 TREES TO CREATE “URBAN FOREST” IN BRADFORD

To mark the start of National Tree Week, The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) will unveil a flagship project to create its first “urban forest” through the planting of 10,000 trees at Newhall Park in Bradford.

As one of the UK’s youngest and most diverse cities with over a quarter of its population under 16, this project will celebrate Bradford’s multiculturalism and commitment to tree planting across areas of socioeconomic need.

Working in partnership with Trees for Cities and the City of Bradford Metropolitan Council, the QGC will bring together the local community, school students and voluntary groups of all ages to plant 10,000 trees. The project contributes to the Council’s “Tree for Every Child” programme, which forms part of a broader plan to plant 55,000 trees over the next three years.

Volunteers on the day, which include former Bradford resident Alastair Campbell, will plant a variety of species to transform a flat and underused space into what will eventually become a vibrant and accessible woodland for local communities, which has 10 primary schools within a 1-mile radius.

Sir Nicholas Bacon, Chairman of The Queen’s Green Canopy said:
“The Queen’s Green Canopy is proud to unveil its first urban forestry project in Bradford, continuing our work to support urban greening in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation and low canopy cover across the UK. Working with Trees for Cities and Bradford Council, we hope to establish a beautiful and sustainable space to connect local people with nature, and create a cleaner, greener, healthier place for residents and future generations to enjoy.”

Alan Titchmarsh, MBE DL, Ambassador for The Queen’s Green Canopy said:
“As an Ambassador for The Queen’s Green Canopy who was born and brought up in Ilkley, and served an apprenticeship in the nurseries of the Parks Department there, I am delighted to support this brilliant local initiative. I would like to send my best to all the volunteers, school students and members of the local community who will be there on the day. With the tree planting season now in full swing, I am proud to say that I’ve planted my Jubilee tree, joining people from all over the country who are getting involved with this special initiative to celebrate Her Majesty. The season runs from October to March so be sure to grab a spade soon and “Plant a tree for the Jubilee”.

David Elliott, Trees for Cities, Chief Executive said:
“We are incredibly proud to be partnering with The Queens Green Canopy and City of Bradford Metropolitan City Council this National Tree Week. Together we hope to enable and inspire a new generation of individuals and communities to plant, protect and promote urban trees in Bradford – one of the UK’s most youthful and diverse cities! Through the partnership, we are encouraging local people to come together to plant a tree for the Jubilee as a legacy to Her Majesty’s service to the nation, while also delivering urban greening as part of Bradford’s Tree for Every Child initiative to plant 55,000 trees over the next three years – one tree for every child – that will survive and thrive for generations to come.”

Cllr Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Portfolio Holder for Healthy People and Places said:
“This event is part of our Tree for Every Child project, which is one of our many climate actions. This event also forms part of the Queen’s Green Canopy, and they have kindly contributed to the project. We are delighted to host this event with our partners Trees for Cities and welcome the Lord Lieutenant and all the guests attending on the day. This year we are working with primary schools and community organisations to plant 10,000 trees at Newhall Park. We also plan to establish 20 school orchards and plant hundreds of native trees in another ten schools across the district. This is all supported by our local partners – Forest of Bradford, YorGreen CIC and Bradford Environmental Education Service.”

Alastair Campbell said:
“I am looking forward to going back to Bradford to plant some trees as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy. I spent the first eleven years of my life in West Yorkshire and I think travelling around with my dad on his vet’s rounds visiting farms was when I first experienced the power and the pull of beautiful scenery. Trees are so important to that, and so important to our urban life too. But above all we perhaps know more than ever now, in the wake of the recent COP, that they are vital to our future survival, and that of other species. So there are so many reasons to want to be there and to be part of this. Added to which it will give me an easy selection for my Tree of the Day which I post every day on social media.”

Volunteers who are interested to get involved in tree planting in Bradford on Saturday 27th November can register here: https://www.treesforcities.org/newhallpark