Hackney,
29
January
2021
|
16:08
Europe/London

1,000 street trees planted since 2018

The 1,000th new street tree in Hackney since 2018 has been planted in Shacklewell Row in Dalston, as part of the single largest investment in trees in the borough’s history.

5,000 new street trees are set to be planted in the borough by 2022, along with 1,000 new trees and 30,000 saplings in parks and green spaces, as part of the Council's commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2040 and respond to the Climate Emergency.

Offering additional greenery, shade and benefits to mental health and wellbeing, the new street trees will see on-street canopy cover increase from 20% to 30% by 2022, playing an important role in filtering polluted air, sequestering carbon, providing more shade and reducing extreme temperatures in the summer and helping to mitigate local flooding.

16 new trees in Shacklewell Row have been planted by the Council’s street tree team and its highways contractor Marlborough Highways, with the Mayor of Hackney joining officers to help plant the 1,000th tree.

The five species planted include Betula Nigra, Prunus Accolade, Sorbus Torminalis, Acer Rubrum Bowhall and Prunus x Hillieri Spire, a mixture of native and non-native trees, ensuring that trees are appropriate for their setting, and resilient to pests and the changing climate.

The mix of species also means an increase in local biodiversity and that the trees are colourful throughout the year. 

Philip Glanville, Mayor of Hackney
I’m incredibly proud of our street trees programme, which is not only a response to the Climate Emergency, but now forms a part of our efforts to rebuild a greener Hackney in the wake of the pandemic, helping to lock-in carbon emissions, improve air quality and make our streets more pleasant places to be. 

Street trees bring incredible beauty to the borough, with often hidden benefits to our well being and I can’t wait to see the trees on Shacklewell Row bloom in spring, and look forward to seeing thousands more new trees planted across the borough by next year.
Philip Glanville, Mayor of Hackney

More information about the tree species planted on Shacklewell Row:

  • Betula Nigra (River Birch) has flaking orange bark, a very different form and yellow autumn colours
  • Prunus Accolade (Pink flowering japanese cherry cross) holds its flowers in the winter and has very good vibrant orange and reds in the autumn
  • Sorbus Torminalis (Wild Service Tree) is a native tree of the UK and presents a wonderful autumn colour of oranges and reds, and has an interesting leaf shape and bark. It is known as the cheques tree, the name given to the pattern of its bark and its fruit which are edible and taste similar to dates. It was used to flavour beer before the introduction of hops
  • Acer Rubrum Bowhall (North American Upright Maple) has autumn colours of yellow, orange and red 
  • Prunus x Hillieri Spire (Upright formed canopy Pink Flowering cherry cross) has very nice autumn colours of orange and reds.