More than 500 trees are set to be planted in Mayesbrook Park this winter, as part of plans to bring new life into the green space and support local wildlife across the borough.
Mayesbrook Park is one of 28 parks and open spaces across Barking and Dagenham, providing more than 460 hectares of green.
The majority of the work in the project will involve 520 smaller trees, known as whips, being planted by members of the local community alongside helpers from The Conservation Volunteers group. On top of that, there will be 26 large trees planted in the park by specialist contractors.
The scheme is designed to encourage local wildlife in the area, which includes a number of species of birds and bats, as well as compensating for the loss of around 30 trees from the park during the renovation work to the South Lake section of Mayesbrook Park.
The trees are part the Mayor’s Greener City Fund, which will see over 40,000 being planted across the capital.
Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Public Realm, has welcomed the boost to the environment that the new trees will bring.
He said: “We have a range of beautiful parks in our borough and that is why it is essential we continue to invest in them to make sure our residents can enjoy the green spaces and that wildlife can thrive there.
“The best way to improve our parks is to work with local communities and organisations, and that is why we are encouraging people to get involved and lead on the planting of the majority of these new trees.”
