The W1W Tree Planting Initiative’s aim is to line the main streets of Eastern Marylebone with trees. The idea for this local tree planting project originated in the very heart of the community – residents and businesses – then joined by Westminster Tree Trust – a registered charity run entirely by volunteers – and Westminster City Council, all working in partnership together.
The Initiative is progressing well with support from all sides of the community. The project which began in 2008 has now completed its sixth objective — the greening of Bolsover Street with over 48 trees. The scheme has now added over 280 new trees to seven Marylebone streets in the last couple of years. Our target is to plant 500 trees in our neighbourhood by the end of 2012.
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 coming planting season.
We have enjoyed a number of community celebrations to mark our progress. Barbara Windsor, actress and Marylebone local, recently planted the last of 53 new pear trees to go into Weymouth Street in November 2010. In April this year, Alan Titchmarsh, celebrity broadcaster and gardening expert, planted an elm tree to mark the arrival of 48 new trees in Bolsover Street. And this July, Professor Lord Winston, the eminent scientist and fertility expert, planted the last of 49 chanticleer pear trees on New Cavendish Street. Please read further for the full stories.
- Barbara Windsor plants the final pear tree on Weymouth Street in November 2010
We are working to make further tree planting possible in the area during the 2011-12 planting season. The short film below provides background on our efforts to bring trees to our neighbourhood.
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. Furthermore, the Initiative and Westminster Tree Trust have now been selected in the local charity programmes of Sainsburys (Great Portland Street) and Waitrose (Marylebone High Street) who are supporting our efforts.
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, The Howard de Walden Estate, Ridgeford Properties, The Langham London, and James Taylor & Son Bespoke Shoemakers. The recently completed 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.
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. Continued support received from all sides is most appreciated.
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 – trees being planted – January 2012
- Beaumont Street - trees being planted – February 2012
- Westmoreland Street - trees being planted – January 2012
- Duchess Street – to be surveyed / pits being dug
- Queen Anne Street - trees being planted – January 2012
- Chandos Street - trees being planted – January 2012
- Mansfield Street – to be surveyed / pits being dug
- Marylebone Street – to be surveyed / evaluated
- Clipstone Mews – to be surveyed / evaluated
- Clipstone Street - trees being planted – February 2012
- Gildea Street - trees being planted – February 2012
- Langham Street – to be surveyed / pits being dug
- Mortimer Street – to be surveyed / evaluated
- Berners Street - trees being planted – February 2012
- Hanson Street – has been surveyed / evaluated
- Cleveland Street – to be surveyed / pits to be dug
- Carburton Street - trees being planted – February 2012
- Crawford Street - trees being planted – February 2012
- Gloucester Place (North) - trees being planted – January 2012
- Bryanston Street - to be surveyed / pits to be dug
- George Street (West) - trees being planted – February 2012
- Seymour Place - trees being planted – February 2012
- George Street (East) - trees being planted – February 2012
- Seymour Street (York Hs) - trees being planted – February 2012
Approximately two hundred and eighty (280) trees have been planted in the neighbourhood since the launch of the Initiative. The proposal to plant a further 220 trees on 17 area streets during 2011-12 is currently being evaluated by Westminster City Council. All tree planting is subject to local authority survey and consent.
