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.

Westminster Tree Trust – the W1W Tree Planting Initiative supports tree planting in Fitzrovia to balance its contribution to the streets of Marylebone.

To download the current document please click  here or on the image below.

      

The updated Fitzrovia Forest Document may be downloaded here

The latest draft of the Fitzrovia and East Marylebone Landscape and Public Realm Visioning Plan  is now available for review and comment.   Join in so that our streets and public areas provide a better space for everyone in our neighbourhood.

Fitzrovia Forest / East Marylebone

Fitzrovia and East Marylebone are currently experiencing a great deal of change due to a number of significant redevelopment proposals, an increased residential population and a changing local economy.   Whilst these developments are being proposed, the physical condition of the areas’ streets and open spaces need further attention and a strategic approach to create a more unified and attractive public realm and landscape.  It is important that the neighbourhood takes advantage of good public realm design guidance that now exists.

East Marylebone / Fitzrovia Forest Vision Map

Westminster Tree Trust – the W1W Tree Planting Initiative supports tree planting in Fitzrovia to balance its contribution to the streets of Marylebone.   Informal advice received regarding possible tree grants for Fitzrovia stressed that it would be advantageous to show the tree project within the context of the City Council’s recently updated Public Realm Strategy.

A view of southern Fitzrovia - Newman St. Facing North from Oxford St.

ARUP were approached as they are global leaders in Urban Design with local knowledge and as they had previous experience of drafting tree planting proposals.   ARUP were gracious enough to complete this study entirely on a probono basis because they were extremely supportive of local tree planting efforts.   Arup surveyed the area and applied Westminster Public Realm Strategy to what they saw to create the draft consultation document.

Fitzrovia's Open Space Deficiency Mapped Out (WCC Trees in the Public Realm)

The purpose of the report is first and foremost to support tree grant applications for Westminster’s side of Fitzrovia.   In order to be as inclusive as possible, the document has been put out for comment from the wider community.   Subject to comments received, the document will be revised and then used to support further tree grant applications.   It is hoped that this may inspire the wider transformation of the public realm within the study area.

Contact:   w1w.trees@live.co.uk

Document:  download link address

Further information

Proposed 2011-12 tree planting in Central and East Marylebone

The Marylebone Green Grid and Fitzrovia Forest in London wide context

The streetscape of this area is mostly treeless and of a hard-built environment deprived of much open public space or greenery.   Within this area there are numerous educational buildings including various nurseries, schools, colleges and university facilities along with a number of churches and a synagogue.

The streets to the east and north of BBC’s Broadcasting House are within this scope of this planting scheme.  Furthermore, two hospitals are located on streets where plantings have been proposed.

For more information to how to support this endeavour by making a donation to Phase 7 or 8 of this tree planting project, please click on the icon below.

Phase 7 Tree Sponsorship Form

Phase 8 Tree Sponsorship Form

Marylebone streets included in Phase 7 and 8 of the Initiative include:

Langham Street, Gildea Street, Hallam Street (south end), Marylebone Street, Beaumont Street, Westmoreland Street, Duchess Street, Queen Anne Street, Mansfield Street.

The possibility of planting trees on Newman Street, Eastcastle Street, Berners Street and Wells Street is now being evaluated.   It is hoped that approximately 40 trees on sites chosen to enhance the appearance of key streets and in particular of certain local long vistas (e.g. Berners Street North-South, Eastcastle Street West-East) will be possible.  It is an initiative supported by local residents and businesses including those in Berners Place, Newman Street, Eastcastle Street, Berners Street.

This initiative is part of the Fitzrovia Forest project which supports efforts to improve the public realm of this entire area which is bounded by Oxford Street, Euston Road, Portland Place, Cleveland Street and Rathbone Place.

This proposal builds on the work previously carried out by Arup and Streettrees which was referred to as the Fitzrovia Urban Forest.  Now that East Marylebone has joined West Marylebone in starting tree planting in earnest, this scheme has a greater chance of success by being linked with schemes in neighbouring streets.

Please contact w1w.trees@live.co.uk for further information.

At its north end, Cleveland Street runs into Euston Road/Marylebone Road (A40 Westway) which has the notoriety of  being one of the most highly polluted traffic arteries, (not only of London but of Europe!) particularly high in nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone and diesel soot particles.   Neighbouring Bolsover Street, which also runs into the Euston Road, was successfully tree lined in early 2011.

In tests carried out by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP,) both Marylebone Road and Camden have the dubious distinction of being named as Britain’s worst “hotspots” for dangerous levels of diesel pollution.  Local area 2011′s total pollution limits were reached by April – within 4 months – meaning that pollution is 3 times higher than is legally permitted!

This is negatively affecting the health and even the mortality of local residents. Camden’s statistics demonstrate without question that life expectancy is significantly reduced for residents south of the Euston Road.

Efforts, through this major tree planting project, are being made to mitigate the impact of the pollution and noise emanating daily from tens of thousands of vehicle exhausts mere metres away from residential homes.  It is expected that tree planting on a significant scale may help shield local residents from some of the consequences of living so close to this very busy London thoroughfare, and help to improve air quality.

Local residents have prepared a dossier of tree site positions based on neighbourhood watch street improvement proposals (June 2007), ongoing consultations, mobilisations against early morning speeding traffic noise and a vote to campaign for more local greenery and open nature space (2011).

Howard House (Cleveland Street) residents have also been active campaigning for more greenery around where they live. For more information on these endeavours please see: http://howardhouseroofgarden.blogspot.com/.

If you would like to support efforts to green this section of Cleveland Street or if you need more information about this project please contact us. If you’d like to donate money towards planting a tree on our streets, just click below to download a donation form.   All contributions, large or small will help us achieve our goal.

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

Fitzrovian Tree Sponsorship Form

Efforts are underway to green parts of Holcroft Court’s exterior which are quite barren when compared to what has been achieved in the inner courtyard of the building complex.  Local residents now seek to complete their project by improving the outside of their building with new planters, trees and schrubs.

The trasformation of Holcroft Court's courtyard shows the real potential for greening in the neighbourhood

The W1W initiative aims to continue planting trees in East Marylebone and Fitzrovia.  The areas around Holcroft Court, Fitzrovia Court and Howard House are also in line for improvement.   And, especially as Holcroft Court is set back from the road, it provides unique opportunity to create a green space that offers a healthier and more productive communal space.

Draft concept for improvements to the exterior of Holcroft Court

The effort to green the area streets has been supported by local residents in Holcroft Court, Fitzrovia Court and also Howard House for trees at the north end of Cleveland Street.

In the past, trees were not really considered worthwhile. Now that opinion is changing. Trees increase the value of property by 5-15%, and a mature tree by  as much as 27%. Whilst giving character and a sense of place, trees are also the high-rise guardians of the urban environment. Plus there is also evidence that trees help to lower stress and illness levels. All these hidden benefits will not only benefit the present generation, they ensure that we have fulfilled our obligation to future generations.

Trees were recently planted on neighbouring Bolsover Street with the help of Alan Titchmarsh in Spring 2011.   Hopefully this success will allow us to plant trees other area streets.  Survey work is ongoing to find suitable places for trees on Clipstone Street, Clipstone Mews, Carburton Street and Cleveland Street.

To support efforts to green our neighbourhood or if you need more information on this local project please contact  [[details]] .   If you’d like to donate money towards planting a tree on our streets, just click below to download a donation form.  All contributions, large or small will help us achieve our goal.

Sponsorship form

For detail on our local work please see

http://news.fitzrovia.org.uk/2011/09/06/greening-of-fitzrovia-continues/

http://news.fitzrovia.org.uk/2011/04/01/fitzrovia-street-to-be-re-named-in-honour-of-broadcaster/

Community Tree planting success with Portly Panda, Executive Director Peter Anwyl from International Students House, Vice Chair of the Westminster Tree Trust, Moy Scott and Councillor Harvey Marshall on Great Portland Street in July 2011

We are so pleased that Portly Panda of the Portland Hospital helped us plant our trees on Great Portland Street.   Together with children from All Souls School the final trees were added to the north end of this historic street today.

In association with International Students House, Pizza Express and The Portland Hospital, we marked the completion of this work with a community tree planting ceremony.

The Vice Chair of the Westminster Tree Trust, Moy Scott and Councillor Harvey Marshall unveiled the plaques alongside the Executive Director Peter Anwyl from International Students House and Marco Bellisai Area Director for Pizza Express.

The tree planting and unveiling of the plaques was followed by a delicious reception with tea, coffee, pastries and cake hosted by Pizza Express.   We were delighted that so many from the neighbourhood could join this celebration.

The project is a joint initiative by Westminster City Council, Westminster Tree Trust and the W1W Tree Planting Initiative, a local community organisation – residents, resident’s associations, businesses and other commercial organisations – that relies on volunteers to raise funds for the trees and planting work.  The Westminster Tree Trust  has been planting trees to make London’s neighbourhoods more pleasant for over 25 years.

Devonshire Street Ceremonial Tree Planting in June 2011

The rain clouds left abruptly as we came to conclude our work towards greening in Devonshire Street in Marylebone today.  It was a real pleasure to have Kulveer Ranger (Mayor of London Boris Johnson’s Director of Environment and Digital London), Pam Warhurst (Chair of the Forestry Commission) and City of Westminster Councillor Alan Bradley (Trustee Westminster Tree Trust) mark the occasion by planting a chanticleer pear tree – which is one of the 52 new trees that now line Devonshire Street.  We are very grateful to St Marylebone School’s Green Club for joining and assisting us in planting the tree.

Kulveer Ranger, the Mayor of London’s Director of the Environment and Digital London, said: “London’s leafy suburbs and green spaces are the lungs of the capital. They help breath life into our communities, protect the environment and speak to our national yearning for the countryside. Increasing the number of London’s trees is at the heart of the Mayor’s vision to put the village back into the city and help make the capital a greener, better place to live. Initiatives such as W1W tree planting project  are key to this drive by working in support of our tree programme RE:LEAF.   W1W exemplify how communities can work together to bring lasting positive benefits to an area. I hope that their fine example inspires others to take action.”

Residents from West Marylebone also joined us to celebrate the arrival of new trees on this historic street.  Plans have since been announced at the Marylebone Association’s Annual General Meeting about a new tree planting phase (subject to local authority survey and consent) to cover the roads west of the Marylebone High Street.  The Initiative has added over 180 trees to the streets of Marylebone streets this spring – and it is set to do even better in the coming year.  Detailed work is also ongoing to find suitable locations for trees in East Marylebone and Fitzrovia.

Councillor Alan Bradley added “I am very pleased to see Westminster Tree Trust’s vision of green pedestrian corridors through the whole of Marylebone start to appear as reality.  It is especially heartening that the enthusiasm of local businesses and residents has also been reflected in the financial support shown to the project by the neighbourhood.”

The event also marked the launch of the Mayor of London’s RE:LEAF prospectus; a document setting out how London will increase tree canopy cover in the capital.  Kulveer Ranger (Mayor of London Boris Johnson’s Director of Environment and Digital London), went on to announce a major boost for tree planting and volunteering in London - urging Londoners to sign up to Team London‘s new tree planting volunteering programme, and to provide 10,000 trees for community groups to create urban orchards, wildlife havens and help beautify London.  In partnership with the Woodland Trust, the Mayor is offering 100 free tree packs for community groups to reclaim public spaces such as churches, playgrounds, or patches of unused land by planting 10,500 trees.  For more information, please see www.london.gov.uk/releaf-london.

A pleasant and productive reception after the planting was made possible through the generous hospitality of Iberica Restaurant for which the Initiative is most grateful.