The first trees of our Islington Forest for Change project have been planted! Four of the trees originally part of the Somerset House exhibition were planted in an under-used open space near Liverpool Road on Friday 22nd October.
Children from local schools helped to plant the first tree, a silver birch, and also planted dozens of flowering bulbs under the guidance of local gardener Lynne Friendli.
Luella Facer, aged ten, who put in the first shovel of soil, dedicated the tree to her great, great grandfather Harry Facer, who lived in Islington in 1850.
A team of 15 people from Angel Central, planted another of the trees, as well as clearing the site of litter, removing weeds and planting bulbs. Angel Central shopping centre are sponsoring the project, and will continue to be involved in the transformation of the space through staff volunteering days.
Rowena Champion, Islington Council’s Executive Member for Environment and Transport, attended the event and thanked Islington Clean Air Parents and all the volunteers for their support.
Over the coming 12 months, the space will be transformed with more trees and bulbs planted, and a woodland habitat created with bird boxes and insect piles. The space will be renamed Islington Forest for Change, and will become the hub for the wider tree planting project.
We will be inviting local schools to get involved, using the space as an outdoor classroom for forest learning. Plus there will be more bulb and tree planting sessions in the next few months.
If you would like to volunteer or get involved with this space, please get in touch via email: islingtoncleanair@gmail.com
The rest of the trees funded through our crowdfunder campaign will be planted over the winter months.
Islington Clean Air Parents 