CPRE London needs to create a hoop of woodland across the outskirts of the capital

Oak saplings planted as a part of Enfield Chase Woodland Restoration Mission

An “M25 for nature” could possibly be created across the outskirts of London with assist from native individuals in a position to determine websites the place new woodland will be created.

London’s countryside charity, CPRE London, is aiming to create a “tree ring for London”, delivering a steady circle of woodland across the capital and making an “animal tremendous freeway”.

The venture will assist be sure that London’s Inexperienced Belt performs a extra highly effective position in carbon seize and strengthening biodiversity, together with bettering the wellbeing of Londoners. The continual ring of timber will bridge Inexperienced Belt gaps in outer London and create corridors for wildlife.

In Enfield’s Inexperienced Belt, 134,000 timber have been planted since 2020 by Thames 21 and Enfield Council as a part of the Enfield Chase Restoration Mission, with a million new timber being promised in whole by the Labour administration at Enfield Civic Centre.

Nevertheless, Enfield Council can also be proposing to construct greater than 6,000 properties on different elements of the borough’s Inexperienced Belt – one thing opposed by CPRE London.

Different elements of London’s Inexperienced Belt are additionally underneath risk, together with in Hounslow, the place the council has proposed eradicating protecting designations from 45% of its Inexperienced Belt.

CPRE London hopes a hoop of woodland will assist the Inexperienced Belt do its job of “stopping city sprawl”. The charity’s director, Anna Taylor, stated: “There’s an pressing want for extra tree planting – however this must be well-planned with plentiful neighborhood enter with the intention to maximise the potential advantages of latest woodlands and guard in opposition to the lack of different precedence habitats or prime agricultural land.

“We have to be inventive in eager about what London’s neighborhood forest ought to appear like. We have to ask ourselves: are there native inexperienced areas close to me the place timber could possibly be planted that will improve quite than scale back their amenity worth?

“We have an interest within the planting of native woodland, but in addition encouraging the creation of orchards and areas of nut timber, wooded margins for nature pleasant farming, and the institution of latest hedgerows rather than ugly fences.”

For the bottom mapping of potential woodland creation websites the charity wants dependable info on present younger woodland within the Inexperienced Belt, but in addition extra broadly throughout London. This may reveal the place planting can be a part of along with established woodland habitat. Mature woodland is prone to be on the map already – however particulars of youthful woodland (planted inside the final 20 years) and newly planted saplings have to be collected.

Locals can assist by registering potential places for brand spanking new woodland creation, or the situation of present younger woodlands, by filling within the survey right here. CPRE London can also be eager to help ‘buddies of’ teams and assist set up new teams to guard inexperienced areas the place they don’t exist already.

Websites which might be recognized may doubtlessly be put ahead for presidency ‘neighborhood forest’ funding which might then help the landowner to plant the timber. CPRE London itself additionally has restricted funding accessible to help tree-planting at a small variety of places.

To search out out extra concerning the venture:

E mail [email protected]

Go to cprelondon.org.uk/information/help-us-create-a-ring-of-trees-round-london