The Mayor of London Boris Johnson is calling on Londoners to roll up their sleeves and help plant 12,000 trees across the capital, as part of his commitment to green the city and inspire volunteering.
Team London, the Mayor’s volunteering programme, has joined forces with the Tree Council, Trees for Cities and the London Wildlife Trust, and is looking for 400 volunteers to help out at a series of mass planting events during National Tree Week.
The tree planting will take place in locations across London from 23 November to 1 December, transforming ‘green deserts’ into thriving green spaces, biodiverse woodlands and edible hedgerows. Volunteers can take part in guided tree walks and fruit tasting as they get to know their native broadleafs from their black poplars.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson said: ‘This is a fantastic opportunity to get some fresh air, meet new people, and help to green our city. I would encourage every Londoner to pick up a shovel and volunteer’.
The planting is part of the Mayor’s Re: LEAF programme, his commitment to increasing tree cover across the capital by 5 percent by 2025, through a range of initiatives including street trees, community orchards and tree-nurseries. Trees have proven societal and environmental benefits: keeping London cool and improving air quality, increasing resilience against climate change, and enhancing the general health and well-being of city-dwellers.
Team London mobilises the community spirit and enthusiasm of Londoners to make a difference in their local areas through volunteering. Whether it’s cleaning up the environment, helping children with their reading, caring for older people or volunteering at one of the capital’s great events, there is something for everyone to get involved in.
Volunteers can register to take part in mass tree planting events and other volunteering opportunities at http://volunteerteam.london.gov.uk/
