Tree O'Clock Tree Planting on Newington Green

Breathing Places Tree O'Clock Tree Planting 5 December 2009

Newington Green Action Group took part in the BBC's Breathing Places Tree O'Clock Tree Planting Event which contributed to the UN Environment Programme's Billion Tree Campaign.

This planting event took place during National Tree Week 2009 and was part of a national attempt to plant a record-breaking number of trees throughout the UK within just one hour. If the record is broken this national event will be entered into the Guinness Book of Records.

In order to be included in the event, all the trees had to be native species that are good at supporting wildlife and had to be planted between 11am and 12 noon on 5 December 2009.

With help and guidance from Patrick Richardson and Paul Fitzpatrick, 2 of Islington's Urban Foresters, NGAG volunteers planted 2 trees and a number of tree whips on Newington Green. The trees are varieties close to native species that natually grow in the Newington Green area.

We planted:

• Field maple ~ acer campestre elegant. This tree supports honey bees and moths and the leaves turn brilliant colours in autumn.
  
• Crab apple ~ malus John Downie. The spring blossom attracts bees and other insects, while eleven varieties of birds eat the fruit, which can also be used to make jams and jellies.
• Hazel whips ~ corylus avellana. This provides food for various bees, moths, insects, birds and mammals - and we can also enjoy eating the hazel nuts. The trees can be coppiced and the wood used for a variety of purposes.

One Guinness Record has been Broken

At least one record has been broken, by a team of volunteers in Gransha Park, Derry, Northern Ireland. They managed to plant a record-breaking 26,422 trees in just one hour!

Overall, at least 230,000 native trees were planted by hand throughout the UK within the one hour. This does not break the world record but these trees will be a lasting legacy for generations to come which will enrich our environment and our lives, plus help a diversity of wildlife to flourish..

London Tree and Woodland Award

Congratulations to LB Islington, the overall winners of the Forestry Commission's London Tree and Woodland Award 2009 for their 'Excellence in Tree and Woodland work by a public body'.