Cambridge was the first city council to join the Trees for Streets national street tree sponsorship scheme, and lots of residents have taken the opportunity to sponsor trees outside their homes.
Helen, who lives in the Coleridge area of the city, is a nature lover, and has planted birch trees in the family’s front garden along with a natural hedge to create a woodland effect.
The house had a paved driveway before, but we don’t own a car so we put plants in instead. I think it looks so much better.
This street gets full sun for most of the day, and the buildings are painted white which reflects the light and heat too, so we desperately need more shade.
Helen
Cambridge City Council Senior Arboricultural Officer Matthew Magrath says:
I’m planning to plant a Pyrus calleryana ‘Chanticleer’ in Helen’s street – it’s an ornamental pear tree that has beautiful white blossom in springtime and glossy, dark-green foliage.
This is a fantastic small tree, which is popular with wildlife – bees love the flowers, and birds and other creatures enjoy the fruit when that comes along. ‘Chanticleer’ is one of the best ornamental pears for autumn colour, with the foliage turning vivid red before falling.
It also needs minimal pruning, so will be ideal for this street location.
Sponsoring a tree in your street is easy – simply click the yellow button below, enter a few details and we’ll do the rest.
