Much to the delight of local residents and businesses and as part of the W1W Tree Planting Initiative, Alan Titchmarsh, MBE, celebrity broadcaster and gardening expert, planted an elm tree to mark the arrival of 48 new trees in Bolsover Street. This marked the completion of efforts by the Initiative to ‘green’ this historic street and return elm trees to the neighbourhood. Additional trees have also been planted on Great Titchfield Street and Greenwell Street.
Alan Titchmarsh, with the help of school children from All Souls Primary School, returns elm trees to Bolsover Street
The Lord Mayor Locum Tenens, Councillor Harvey Marshall unveiled a commemorative plaque in honour of the event. The Initiative has benefitted from considerable support from all sides and has recently planted over 160 trees along Marylebone’s streets during the last few months.
The Initiative has supported the objectives of the NHS Forest Campaign to improve the physical environment around medical facilities. Today’s planting took place in front of the newly rebuilt Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital and also marked the London launch of the NHS Forest Campaign. As a result, new trees now surround the hospital. Thirteen additional trees have been planted on Great Titchfield Street and Greenwell Street. Rachel Stancliffe, Director of The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, commented:
“We are very pleased that the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital has joined the NHS Forest project. Not only is this good for patients and staff at Bolsover Street, we hope this captures the imagination of communities in the area and sparks further tree planting at healthcare sites across London”
Alan Titchmarsh addresses the gathering at the Bolsover St Tree Planting
This Bolsover Street phase has also played a part in the ‘Ulmus Londinium’ project, led by the Conservation Foundation – to provide elm trees in the capital for future generations. Two new Elm trees have now been replanted on the street after an absence of over 150 years. David Shreeve, Director, The Conservation Foundation, said:
“We are delighted that our friends in W1W Planting Initiative have chosen to replant elms very near to their original position in Bolsover Street. London has a rich heritage of elm and let’s hope these new elms prove worthy neighbours of the magnificent Huntingdon elm, on the list of London’s greatest trees in nearby Marylebone High Street.”
Today’s celebration also coincided with the launch of a similar initiative to plant trees in neighbouring Fitzrovia. This W1T Tree Planting Initiative aims to plant the right trees in the right places and hopefully soften the area’s hard urban character across Westminster’s borough border with Camden. A proposal to plant trees on a further 12 streets in Fitzrovia and Marylebone is currently being evaluated by Westminster City Council.
Julian Maslinski, Chairman of the Westminster Tree Trust, speaks to well wishers at the Bolsover Street planting
Julian Maslinski, Chairman of the Westminster Tree Trust, made an address to the large gathering of well wishers. The text of his speech follows below:
Julian Maslinski – Bolsover Street Ceremonial Tree Planting Address
For further information please see:
Conservation Foundation News – Elm Trees return to Bolsover Street NHS Forest – Alan Titchmarsh plants ‘NHS Forest’ at London Hospital City of Westminster – Alan Titchmarch marks London tree planting scheme News clippings covering the event may be found here [X] .
Marylebone and Fitzrovia's W1W Street Tree Planting Initiative 
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