Sponsoring a tree for their street
Over the past two years 260 new trees have been planted in Croydon through the national charity initiative, Trees for Streets. The project has brought together residents, local businesses, Croydon Council and the Mayor of London, to make our streets greener, healthier and happier places to live. By sponsoring trees, Croydon locals have been able to help get more trees in their communities.
Green my street
Residents and local businesses have used the interactive map on the Trees for Streets website to pick locations where they’d like to see a new street tree planted. Many residents have asked to fill gaps outside their houses or elsewhere on their streets; some opt to sponsor a tree in their favourite park.
It’s a very simple process – once the request is received, Croydon Council conducts a survey to make sure there are no obstructions such as cables, pipes or utility covers. If all is ok, the sponsor’s donation is accepted and that coming winter the council’s contractor is instructed to plant a new street tree at the approved location.
Watering help
The single most expensive cost involved in planting and establishing a new tree is often the watering. It’s fantastic that so many residents have also taken on the job of watering their sponsored trees. This is a huge help and also a very rewarding activity, as it can offer opportunities for neighbours to get to know each other and feel more connected to their communities.
Local heroes
The Trees for Streets team met some of the wonderful local sponsors to catch up with them now that their tree is planted.
Peter sponsored a tree in the green space on his road. It had a few trees already but room for more, and he is happy he was able to give back to the community he’s lived in for many years.
Michael too wanted to support the local community, so he sponsored a tree outside an extra care retirement home he often passes when walking his dog.
Like the tree on Peter’s street, the tree Michael sponsored was also planted in a green space on the side of a road. Green spaces and grass verges are perfect for planting new trees – and there are miles of grass verges in Croydon.
Residents often club together to sponsor trees, which is exactly what Sue and her neighbours did. Together, they sponsored a tree at the top of their street.
Communities can even use the Trees for Streets crowdfunding platform to fund a large number of trees. People for Portland Road ran a crowdfund campaign for 15 new trees on their busy high street, with donations from residents and local businesses helping them to reach the target.
Last but certainly not least, one local hero individually funded over 20 trees over the past two years – transforming his street! What an incredible gift to the neighbourhood.
Get a tree planted this winter
If you’d like to get involved in greening a local street in Croydon, maybe outside your house, your children’s school or along a local highstreet, visit treesforstreets.org/croydon today.
Sponsorship requests must be made by the end of November in order for trees to be planted this winter.
