After Council begins search for streets that need a bit of green

The leafy streets of Chiswick streets are set to become even greener as the council starts work on planting 1000 new trees across the borough.

The first phase will focus on increasing the number of trees that line local streets, and will run for around three months, with the last of the one thousand new trees scheduled to take root early next year.

The council are keen to hear from local people and residents groups who would like trees on their street.

The borough already has more 10,000 street trees that are maintained and looked after by the council’s contractors on an ongoing basis. According to a recent national survey, people feel that the vast majority of street trees (96 per cent) make a major contribution to urban environments.

Trees are also said to have many benefits such as improving air quality, reducing carbon emissions, have a positive impact on people’s emotional and mental wellbeing and, according to research, property prices on tree-lined streets are between five and ten per cent higher than on streets without trees.

Trees also play an important role in preserving and promoting the borough’s biodiversity. They provide nesting sites for birds and support a wide range of insects that are an important food source for various types of wildlife.

January 15, 2009