A further 19 trees are going to be planted in and around Ladywell over the next few months thanks to Street Trees for Living in partnership with Lewisham council, writes Dom Eliot.
You may already have noticed some new pavement excavations dotted around the area. If they have big posts sticking out of them to make sure they are obvious to everybody, then Street Trees for Living has probably asked for them.
Street Trees was previously a project of Brockley Society but is now an independent charity and has worked since 2012 in partnership with the council to plant street trees in our neighbourhoods.
Its campaign was responsible for around 30 trees in Ladywell streets last winter, and more are due for planting in the next few months. Once again Ladywell Assembly has generously subsidised a proportion of the overall cost.
Last year Ladywell sponsors asked for hibiscus, bird cherries, winter orange limes, maidenhairs, a magnolia and a Cox apple. This year they have gone for hornbeams and maples.
However there will also be some rather more unusual trees for Lewisham pavements – a foxglove tree for Tressillian Road near Hilly Fields, a crape myrtle in Ermine Road at the Vicar’s Hill end, winter flowering cherries in Braxfield and Undercliff Roads, and bee trees (yes really) in Arabin Road and Gillian Street.
Excitingly, many Ladywell streets have taken on multiple planting. Last year four trees were planted in Phoebeth Road, six in Chudleigh Road, and eight in “Mid-Town” Brockley Road. This year six trees will be planted in Braxfield Road. In each case, Street reps have inspired neighbours and businesses to support and fund the planting.
In the future these trees will have wonderful visual impact. But the campaigning and planting is already creating positive emotions among those involved. Everyone feels good to be doing something for the future.
You too can get involved. If you and/or your neighbours are interested in new trees on the streets you can let us know here on the Street Trees for Living website.
However, please note – due to the high current demand further expressions of interest for planting in winter 2020-21 may not lead to planting then. We cannot be certain yet. However, we hope you will register your interest anyway as it helps us in our aim of increasing tree numbers in Lewisham.
If you would like to help us run our campaign and sustain it in the future we would be delighted to hear from you. Just let us know by visiting our website or emailing info@streettreesforliving.org
Dom Eliot is a volunteer and trustee of Street Trees for Living, a registered charity 1185165