600th Tree — Project Completion — W1W Tree Planting Initiative

Marylebone tree project plants 600th tree and wins two GLA Re:Leaf Awards

As part of London Tree Week, Marylebone locals celebrated the addition of the 600th tree in Marylebone and Fitzrovia.  The Minister of State for Environment, David Heath MP, planted the tree with the help of children from All Souls and St Vincent’s primary schools.

The final tree, a very distinct liquid amber, was planted on Great Portland Street yesterday to mark the closure of the project.  The inner-city initiative aimed to reduce the impact of heavy traffic and make the streets a more pleasant environment for all.

Local contributions are now well in excess of £80,000 pounds with match funding from the Westminster Tree Trust, Westminster City Council with an additional £10,000 support from the Big Tree Plant campaign.

The Initiative was also recognised today with two Re:Leaf awards at London’s City Hall.

It was a wonderful day in our campaign for a greener Marylebone and Fitzrovia.

Green lines on Great Portland Street

Tree line on Great Titchfield Street

All together tree planting on Great Portland Street

Diggin in on Great Portland Street

Tree planting in London’s West End

Forestry Minister David Heath MP greens Great Portland Street

New Hallam Street Vista

New Cavendish Street is now lined with 49 new pear trees

600th W1 Tree

The 600th tree is packed down by David Heath MP, Minister for Environment and little helpers

Great Portland Street

Great Portland Street Tree Celebration

David Heath, Forestry Minister on Great Portland Street

Liquid Amber Turning

W1W Liquid Amber Surprise

Green Lines on Great Portland Street

All Souls Primary Dig In at Fitzrovia Forest planting

Now Green Bolsover Street

Tree Planting Initiative for Marylebone – Project Summary

The objective of the W1W Tree Planting Initiative is to line the main streets of Marylebone with trees. The initiative has proven extremely successful thanks to a strong partnership between the local community – residents and businesses, Westminster Tree Trust and Westminster City Council.   The project planted its first 40 trees on Hallam Street in 2009.  It has since grown with 12 subsequent phases to include a further 30 streets in East and West Marylebone with an aim to add 500 trees to the neighbourhood by 2012.

We are delighted to announce that we have now reached our original goal of planting 500 new trees in Marylebone.  The support and financial contributions we received from all sides to reach our goal have been nothing short of phenomenal.  The funding for the trees was made possible through a match funding scheme with community donations being matched by Westminster Tree Trust and Westminster City Council.  So far a total of £80,000 has been donated by the local community.

Barbara Windsor and Queen College Preparatory School plant the last new tree planting. on Weymouth St

In June 2011, inspired by the forest of trees being planted on the eastern side of Marylebone High Street, a group of locals decided to form the West Marylebone Tree Initiative which would encourage tree planting to the west of the High Street.  A major effort was also launched in September 2011 to plant trees on ten East Marylebone and Fitzrovia streets in the 2011-12 planting season.

John Simpson of the BBC and St Vincents School’s Green Team plant our 500th Tree

We have enjoyed a number of community celebrations to mark our progress.  Matthew Wright of Channel 5 TV and the BBC planted the last of 40 our trees on Hallam Street in June 2009.  In November 2010, Barbara Windsor, actress and Marylebone local, planted the last of 53 new pear trees in Weymouth Street.   In April 2011, Alan Titchmarsh, celebrity broadcaster and gardening expert, planted an elm tree to mark the arrival of 48 new trees in Bolsover Street.  And in July 2011, Professor Lord Winston, the eminent scientist and fertility expert, planted the last of 49 chanticleer pear trees on New Cavendish Street.  John Simpson, the BBC’s World Affairs Editor, planted our 500^th tree outside Broadcasting House on 17 May 2012.

Alan Titchmarsh helps elm trees arrive on Bolsover Street

The Initiative has benefitted from support from all sides of the community.  We are especially grateful for the generosity of The Princess Grace Hospital and The Harley Street Clinic, The Portland Hospital, Groundwork London (Forestry Commission), The Howard de Walden Estate, The Portland Estate, Ridgeford Properties and The Langham London.  The Weymouth Street phase was also made possible by a generous contribution from Groundwork London through the Forestry Commission’s London Tree and Woodland Grant Scheme and Big Tree Plant.  Furthermore, the Initiative was included in the local charity programmes of Sainsbury’s (Great Portland Street) and Waitrose (Marylebone High Street).  The Initiative is especially grateful for the support of Westminster City Council without whom little progress would have been possible.

Motivation for the Initiative is varied and includes the following:

• improve the quality of life for those living and working in Marylebone
• provide a visually calming element to an increasingly busy and congested urban environment
• make the area one of the ‘greenest’ in Westminster
• encourage walking through our neighbourhood by creating new green pedestrian corridors
• improve the attractiveness and uniqueness of the area

The arrival of these new trees for Eastern Marylebone marks the first extensive return of trees to the area since these streets were first laid out in the mid 1700’s.  We are also grateful for the enthusiastic support we have received from the members of the Marylebone Association at the organisation’s recent Annual General Meeting.

Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; assisted by Tim Rollinson, Director General, Forestry Commission; Alisdair Douglas, Chair of the Board, The Tree Council; Mark Field MP, Cities of London & Westminster; and Julian Maslinski, Chairman, Westminster Tree Trust plant the first new trees on Great Portland Street in November 2009

Our November 2009 ceremonial planting on Great Portland Street coincided with the launch of the UK’s 35th National Tree Week.  To mark the occasion, a celebratory tree was planted on the street by The Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; assisted by Tim Rollinson, Director General, Forestry Commission;  Alisdair Douglas, Chair of the Board, The Tree Council; Mark Field MP, Cities of London & Westminster; and Julian Maslinski, Chairman, Westminster Tree Trust.

The Initiative has been actively working on the following streets:

• Hallam Street – 40 trees – completed June 2009
• Weymouth Street – 53 trees – completed March 2010
• Devonshire Street – 52 trees – completed January 2011
• Great Portland Street – 25 trees – completed February 2011
• New Cavendish Street – 49 trees – completed February 2011
• Bolsover Street – 48 trees – completed February 2011
• Great Titchfield Street - 18 trees planted – January 2012
• Beaumont Street - 14 trees planted – February 2012
• Westmoreland Street - 12 trees planted – January 2012
• Duchess Street - 10 trees planted - March 2012
• Queen Anne Street - 14 trees planted – February 2012
• Chandos Street - 4 trees planted – January 2012
  
• Wellbeck Street - 4 trees planted – February 2012
• Marylebone Street - to be surveyed / evaluated
• Clipstone Mews - surveyed – February 2012
• Clipstone Street  - 14 trees planted – February 2012
• Gildea  Street - 4 trees planted – February 2012
• Langham Street - 8 trees planted – March 2012
• Mortimer  Street – to be surveyed / evaluated
• Berners Street - 21 trees planted – February 2012
• Hanson Street – surveyed – February 2012
• Cleveland Street - 3 trees planted – February 2012
• Carburton Street - trees being planted – February 2012
• Crawford Street - 32 trees planted – February 2012
• Gloucester Place  - 10 trees planted – January 2012
• Bryanston Street - 5 trees planted – February 2012
• George Street - 28 trees planted – February 2012
• Seymour Place - 31 trees planted – February 2012
• Seymour Street  - 8 trees planted – February 2012
• Wigmore Street - 5 trees planted – February 2012

Considerable efforts will be made in the future to extend the benefit of the tree lines into further streets in West Marylebone, East Marylebone and Fitzrovia. The Fitzrovia and East Marylebone Forest concept document was recently been published by ARUP. The document seeks to identify a number of townscape and public realm interventions and to encourage local residents, businesses and organizations to support the implementation of these interventions.  We are most grateful for all the effort put into creating this advocacy document to improve the area.

The trees on Hallam Street were some of the  first added by the Initiative (2009)

Finally, we would like to personally thank every volunteer who supported our activities and helped us collect contributions for our trees during the many phases of the Initiative.  Without your help we would not have been able to deliver these wonderful results.

All tree planting is subject to local authority survey and consent.

Marylebone’s Beaumont Street now lined with 14 Amelanchier trees

Another Marylebone Tree Planting phase was completed successfully today on Beaumont Street.  Lord Glenarthur, Chairman, dug in a tree and unveiled a plaque thanking the Consultants at King Edward VII’s Hospital for sponsoring the 5 Amelanchier trees recently planted outside the Hospital.  Peter Ruback, Chairman of the Westminster Tree Trust, who was also present mentioned how pleased the Trust has been to plant so many trees near hospitals in Marylebone and Fitzrovia.

Lord Glenarthur plants the ultimate Amelanchier tree in front of King Edward VII Hospital in Marylebone

A total of 14 trees have been planted on the Beaumont Street by the W1W Tree Planting Initiative.  The Initiative has planted over 500 trees in the neighbourhood since 2009 in order to support the Central London Green Grid.  The Initiative has proven extremely successful thanks to a strong partnership between the local community — residents and businesses, Westminster Tree Trust and Westminster City Council.

Lord Glenarthur at Beaumont Tree Planting Ceremony

Beaumont Street, Marylebone now planted with 14 Amelanchier trees

Lord Glenarthur with Peter Ruback CBE, Chairman of Westminster Tree Trust and Chris Colwell of Westminster City Council’s Arboricultural Section

New Amelanchier trees in Marylebone

Tree planting on the Streets of Marylebone

Beamont Street now with trees

Lord Glenarthur plants the untimate Amelanchier tree in front of King Edward VII Hospital in Marylebone

Trees planted in Marylebone

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We are especially grateful to Westminster City Council’s Arboricultural Department for the wonderful support provided to the project.

University of Westminster contributes to the further greening of a very chilly Cleveland Street

Trees added to Cleveland Street – Fitzrovia Forest – University of Westminster –   Opposite BT Tower

Celebration: Trevor Wills, Director of Estates & Facilities, Professor Geoffrey Petts, Vice-Chancellor, of the University of Westminster, Peter Ruback CBE, Chairman of Westminster Tree Trust, and Tarik Mahriat Students’ Union representative (Left-Right) after planting two new trees on Cleveland Street (W1W)

Tree planting in Fitzrovia continues with the recent addition of two silver birch trees outside University of Westminster‘s Cavendish Campus on Cleveland Street.  The trees arrival marks the University’s 175th anniversary, an important milestone in institution’s history while contributing to the greening of another area of our neighbourhood.  Planting more trees on Cleveland Street has proved especially challenging due to the extent of subterranean infrastructure under its pavements.

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The trees’ arrival was celebrated at a ceremonial planting on 20 March 2013, with one of the trees being planted by the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Geoffrey Petts, and the other by Students’ Union representative, Tarik Mahri.   Peter Ruback, Chairman of Westminster Tree Trust, spoke to gathering stressing the commitment the Trust has had to green the streets of Westminster – in particular those in East Marylebone.  This was the first tree planting at any of the University’s Central London sites in recent years.

The idea of the Cleveland Street tree project was inspired by the W1W Tree Planning Initiative, which has planted hundreds of trees in the area as part of the Fitzrovia Forest project in East Marylebone.  The neighbourhood is acknowledged to suffer from high levels of environmental deprivation.  Westminster City Council part funded this project, which was delivered in coordination with the Westminster Tree Trust, W1W Tree Planting Initiative and DEFRA’s Big Tree Plant campaign.  We are especially grateful to Westminster Council’s Arboricultural Department for the wonderful support they provided to the project.

Professor Geoffrey Petts, Vice-Chancellor, of the Univeristy of Westminster plants

New Cleveland Street Trees

Professor Geoffrey Petts, Vice-Chancellor, of the Univeristy of Westminster – Tree Planting Cleveland Street

Fitzrovia Forest – U Westminster – Cavendish Campus – East Marylebone – Clipstone Street

Peter Ruback CBE, Chairman of Westminster Tree Trust speak ats at planting on Cleveland Street

Tarik Mahriat Students’ Union representative – Tree Planting Cleveland Street

Planting Trees in Fitzrovia Forest in East Marylebone

Trevor Wills, Director of Estates & Facilities – Tree Planting Cleveland Street – U Westminster

Planting Trees in Fitzrovia Forest in East Marylebone

Tree Planting Cleveland Street

Planting Trees in Fitzrovia Forest in East Marylebone

Tree Planting Cleveland Street

Planting Trees in Fitzrovia Forest in East Marylebone

Gathering for Planting of Trees in University of Westminster – Fitzrovia Forest in East Marylebone

New W1W Trees around Cavnedish Campus

Tree Planting Cleveland Street

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These trees are in addition to the many that have now been planted around the Cavendish Campus of Westminster University.  This endeavour has been part of concerted action to improve the local area with trees and the creation of a new pocket park at the north of Great Titchfield Street.

Seeking funds for trees in Fitzrovia and East Marylebone

John Simpson plants Initiative’s 500th tree in Marylebone

“He is more used to war zones than green zones, but BBC’s John Simpson CBE did his bit for the ‘greening of Marylebone’ when he shovelled soil to plant the 500th tree outside BBC Broadcasting House as part of a three-year street tree project for Marylebone and Fitzrovia.”

The world affairs editor was joined by his family, pupils from St Vincent’s Primary School and the newly elected Lord Mayor of Westminster, Cllr Angela Harvey at an event organised by the W1W Tree Planting Initiative, a scheme run by residents, businesses, the Westminster Tree Trust and Westminster City Council.

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Speaking at the event, the 67-year-old BBC world affairs editor said: “In my daily work I see a lot of destruction and cruelty and stupidity – a lot of the destroying of good things of the earth.  To play a part in planting something like this is absolutely marvellous.”

This marked a landmark moment for the four-year W1W Tree Planting Initiative, a partnership between residents, businesses, Westminster Tree Trust and Westminster City Council, to improve the borough streets.  The project received match funding from the Trust and Council with £80,000 being donated by local residents, businesses and organisations.

Westminster Lord Mayor Angela Harvey with three Councillors Alan Bradley, Harvey Marshall and Jonathan Glanz who supported the project since its inception.

In her first official engagement as Lord Mayor Councillor Angela Harvey, a former Chairman of the Go Green Task Force at Westminster City Council, remarked on the achievement of getting the 500 trees planted in Marylebone prior to the Olympics — just as locals had originally hoped.  Moy Scott, Vice Chair of Westminster Tree Trust, who spoke to the gathering, mentioned how pleased the Trust was with this result.  The text of Moy’s speech may be accessed here.

Recently the W1W Tree Planting Initiative received a big boost when the Big Tree Plant campaign provided a grant of £10,000 to support further tree planting in East Marylebone and Fitzrovia.

2012: Scores of New Trees Planted in West Marylebone

11 June 2012 – Giorgio Locatelli planted an elm tree outside his eponymous restaurant on Seymour Street (by Portman Square) in celebration of the 119 new trees being planted in West Marylebone early 2012.  The planting took place in the presence of The Lord Mayor of Westminster Cllr Angela Harvey and Moy Scott, Vice Chair of Westminster Tree Trust.

By Spring 2012, we had the pleasure of seeing trees planted on Crawford Street, Gloucester Place, Bryanston Street, George Street, Seymour Place, Seymour Street and  Wigmore Street in Marylebone.

We are most grateful for the generous support this campaign has received from local residents and businesses, The Portman Estate and Westminster City Council.

LOVE OF TREES – by Tony Frazer-Price

West Marylebone celebrates with the Lord Mayor Cllr Angela Harvey and Giorgio Locatelli the planting of 144 new trees in the neighbourhood

I got involved with the West Marylebone tree project by way of Sybil Kapoor whose amazing enthusiasm got our tree fever vision off the ground.

I certainly can’t lay claim to the five hundred trees that are now planted around Marylebone but just those that now line Crawford Street. The target was 39 trees with birches either end of Crawford Street and olive trees  in the middle section to match the thriving olive trees that were planted outside Clarewood Court a few years ago.

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Sybil and I found great enthusiasm for the idea of olive trees and birches abounding the pavements of Crawford Street and there were twenty-one donations from businesses,mansion blocks and individuals who gladly gave over £5,000 so that they could be part of the tree heritage that will grow and grow.

In West Marylebone we are now blessed with trees and I even got involved in a tree planting ceremony – there’s a first for my CV – with the Councillor Angela Harvey, the Lord Mayor of Westminster and Giorgio Locatelli when a tree was planted outside his restaurant.

Crawford Street street scene in Spring 2012

Time to reflect on the comforting reality that as we and our families put down roots in this lovely area of London so do our trees. They will keep on growing and prospering as well as be there for all to enjoy for years to come.  Now that the Westminster Tree Trust has started this initiative I hope, that in years to come, not only will residents continue to enjoy our trees but ensure that others grow alongside them.

LOVE OF TREES

Tony Frazer-Price

Fitzovia Community Centre Launched – Commemorative Tree Planted on Berners Street

Fitzrovia locals recently celebrated two positive developments in the neighbourhood.  The first good news was the opening of the Fitzrovia Community Centre — a new hub for local activities with an emphasis on increasing social cohesion.  The second news item was the good progress being made with the Fitzrovia Forest – a project to plant street trees across the neighbourhood.  approximately 140 new trees have now been planted on area streets since the project’s launch.

Mark Field MP and Deputy Lord Mayor of Westminster Cllr. Dr. Cyril Nemeth plant the ceremonial tee on Berners Street on 15 June 2012 in celebration of the opening of the Fitzrovia Community Centre

Commemorative Plaque for the opening of the Fitzrovia Community Centre on Berners Street in July 2012

Both successes were celebrated with the ceremonial opening of the Centre and tree planting on Berners Street  by Cllr Dr Cyril Nemeth, Deputy Mayor, City of Westminster and Mark Field MP for the Cities of London and Westminster.   Edward Turner, chair of the new Fitzrovia Community Centre, along with many well wishers were present at the ceremony.

Great Titchfield Street in 2012

Mark Field MP and Deputy Lord Mayor of Westminster Cllr. Dr.Nemeth plant the Ceremonial Tree on Berners Street on 15 June 2012

Fitzrovia Forest Area of Interest 2012-3 — Big Tree Plant

Fitzrovia Forest Trees started to appear in 2012

Berners Street Tree Line

New Trees on Carburton Street

Tree line on Great Titchfield Street

Green North end of Great Titchfield Street

Commemorative Plaque for the opening of the Fitzrovia Community Centre

Moy Scott, Vice Chairman of the Westminster Tree Trust, spoke to the gathering of local residents and school children and remarked that the Trust’s had ambitions to plant over 220 trees here.

Fitzrovia Forest Area of Interest 2012-3 — Big Tree Plant

We are optimistic that this Fitzrovia Forest target may be reached; especially now that a grant from the Big Tree Plant campaign has been received and other financial contributions have been confirmed.

Fitzrovia Forest / East Marylebone Trees — 2012 Update

Great Titchfield Street - 18 trees planted

Berners Street - 21 trees planted

Cleveland Street - 3 trees planted

Carburton Street- ~16 trees planted

Bolsover Street- 48 trees planted

Clipstone Street -14 trees planted

Total:   140 trees planted

Big Tree Plant gives £10,000 grant to Fitzrovia Forest project

Ambitions to plant more trees in East Marylebone received a big boost recently with the news that we received a grant of £10,000 from The Big Tree Plant Campaign.  These monies supplements a £25,000 S106 contribution for trees that will come from the Ex-Middlesex Hospital redevelopment project which was confirmed in March 2012.

The Initiative has long sought funding for more trees in Fitzrovia and East Marylebone

The main aim of The Big Tree Plant funding scheme is to encourage and support community groups to plant trees in neighbourhoods where people live and work.

Grant Area Outlined
Map: Fitzrovia Forest Vision Document (Feb 2012)

The W1W Tree Planting Initiative and Westminster Tree Trust have been working in close cooperation with Westminster City Council’s Tree Section to see more trees are planted in the area.  This three way partnership aims to plant trees in East Marylebone/ Fitzrovia as part of the Fitzrovia Forest Project.   A match funding model, in operation since 2008 has been crucial for the success of this project.

The Fitzrovia Forest project hopes to plant approximately 220 trees in East Marylebone/ Fitzrovia.  Supporters believe these trees will make a striking environmental improvement to local streetscapes. New trees will give  cohesion to disparate buildings, add resplendent greenery and encourage biodiversity – bird and insect life.

Fitzrovia Forest Vision Document Now Updated

The latest version of the Fitzrovia Forest document has just been released by ARUP and may now be downloaded from the link below.  A number of recommendations made by local stakeholders and the community have been incorporated in this draft.  An earlier version of the report was released in November 2011.

The purpose of the report is first and foremost to support tree grant applications for Westminster’s side of Fitzrovia.  The document’s also seeks to identify a number of townscape and public realm interventions and to encourage local residents, businesses and organisations to support the implementation of these interventions.   Camden Borough Council have similarly been preparing an Area Action Plan for their side of Fitzrovia.

Westminster Tree Trust – the W1W Tree Planting Initiative supports tree planting in Fitzrovia to balance its contribution to the streets of Marylebone.  The Initiative applied for a grant from The Big Tree Plant to assist the development of the Fitzrovia Forest in March 2012.   The updated Fitzrovia Forest document was included in the application package.

To download the current East Marylebone / Fitzrovia Forest document please click  here or on the image below.

      

The updated Fitzrovia Forest Document may be downloaded here

Trees picket Marylebone Road pollution

The W1W Tree Planting Initiative has been in contact with Transport for London (TfL) seeking to mitigate the environmental impact of traffic of the Marylebone Road and Euston Roads on our neighbouring area.

Relentless traffic on the Euston Road heavy traffic as seen from Cleveland St

The Initiative has been working to implement a Central Marylebone Green Grid in the area between Edgware Road and Tottenham Court Road.  By the end of Spring 2012, the Initiative expects to have planted 500 trees in the area — many of these are within the boundaries of the Clean Air Fund corridor.

Tree planting in Marylebone mitigates the impact of road pollution in our area

We hope that TfL will help fund further planting of trees along neighbourhood roads that are most impacted by the pollution of the Marylebone and Euston Roads.

Potential streets that could be planted – within 50 yards of the Marylebone Road:

1. Lisson Grove

2. Seymour Place

3. Harewood Avenue

4.  Upper Montagu Street

5.  Balcombe Street  from Marylebone Road up to Dorset Square

6.  Gloucester Place- South of Marylebone Road

7.  Gloucester Place- North of Marylebone Road

8.  Baker Street

9.  Allsop Place

10 Chiltern Street

11. Luxborough Street

12. Nottingham Place

13. Cleveland Street – west side of street

 

Further details regarding this development will follow.