As the Bedford Trees for Streets scheme reaches a new milestone, meet the residents who have helped make it happen. You can also read about how the scheme is improving school streets.
300 new trees planted
Residents, community groups and businesses across Bedford Borough helped to get nearly 100 new trees planted on school streets, residential streets and in parks this year. In total, over 300 trees have now been planted since Trees for Streets arrived in Bedford in 2021.
Working in partnership with Bedford Borough Council, the Trees for Streets scheme empowers residents and community groups to make a tangible, positive difference to their local environment. Trees add a splash of colour to our neighbourhoods and attract wildlife. They are good for our mental health and wellbeing, encourage outdoor activities and offer myriad environmental benefits.
Bringing nature to doorstepS
Helena Pointer and her husband moved into their Bedford home in October last year, and she immediately sponsored a tree right outside. A beautiful cherry tree was planted just a few months later. “I feel extremely happy to be able to make a difference to our street and provide a tree for everyone to enjoy,” she explains.
Long-time resident Diana Bedford has become a local tree hero by sponsoring a tree every year since the scheme started. “I felt my road was rather lacking in trees and I wanted to do my bit in improving it,” she says. She had a silver birch and a trident maple planted, and her third tree is due to be planted this winter.
Neighbours clubbing together
Across the borough, neighbours have clubbed together to get trees planted in their communities.
Will White used the Trees for Streets crowdfunding platform to collect donations for four new trees to be planted on his street. He delivered letters to his neighbours asking for their support, and the community came together to make his vision a reality.
Will plans to fundraise for more trees next year.
Transforming school streets
Horizon Specialist Contracting, a national business with operations in Bedford Borough, sponsored a row of nine new trees outside Kempston Rural Primary School. An excited group of pupils from the school’s Eco Committee even participated in the planting day, learning about the planting process and the benefits of trees.
Adjacent to Kempston Rural Primary School, a second school street greening project took root. An avenue of 16 trees was planted along the road leading up to Kempston Academy.
In total, 25 trees were planted outside the two schools this year. As the trees mature, they will mitigate noise and absorb traffic pollution, whilst pupils will enjoy a greener walk to school and more shade in hot weather.
Sponsor a tree this autumn
Anyone can sponsor a tree in Bedford Borough. Head to our Bedford page to fill in a simple form, select your preferred tree location, and make your sponsorship donation. We will work with the council to take care of everything else.
Make your request by 30th November in order for your tree to be planted this winter.
