W1W Tree Planting Initiative for Marylebone -- 2012 Project Summary

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• published: 20 Jul 2012
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The objective of the W1W Tree Planting Initiative is to line the main streets of Marylebone with trees. The initiative has proven extremely successful thanks to a strong partnership between the local community -- residents and businesses, Westminster Tree Trust and Westminster City Council. The project planted its first 40 trees on Hallam Street in 2009. It has since grown with 12 subsequent phases to include a further 30 streets in East and West Marylebone with an aim to add 500 trees to the neighbourhood by 2012. We are delighted to announce that we have now reached our original goal of planting 500 new trees in Marylebone. The support and financial contributions we received from all sides to reach our goal have been nothing short of phenomenal. The funding for the trees was made possible through a match funding scheme with community donations being matched by Westminster Tree Trust and Westminster City Council. So far a total of £80,000 has be donated by the local community. We have enjoyed a number of community celebrations to mark our progress. Matthew Wright of Channel 5 TV and the BBC planted the last of 40 our trees on Hallam Street in June 2009. In November 2010, Barbara Windsor, actress and Marylebone local, planted the last of 53 new pear trees in Weymouth Street. In April 2011, Alan Titchmarsh, celebrity broadcaster and gardening expert, planted an elm tree to mark the arrival of 48 new trees in Bolsover Street. And in July 2011, Professor Lord Winston, the eminent scientist and fertility expert, planted the last of 49 chanticleer pear trees on New Cavendish Street. John Simpson, the BBC's World Affairs Editor, planted our 500th tree outside Broadcasting House on 17 May 2012. The Initiative has benefitted from support from all sides of the community. We are especially grateful for the generosity of The Princess Grace Hospital and The Harley Street Clinic, The Portland Hospital, Groundwork London (Forestry Commission), The Howard de Walden Estate, The Portland Estate, Ridgeford Properties and The Langham London. The Weymouth Street phase was also made possible by a generous contribution from Groundwork London through the Forestry Commission's London Tree and Woodland Grant Scheme and Big Tree Plant. Furthermore, the Initiative was included in the local charity programmes of Sainsbury's (Great Portland Street) and Waitrose (Marylebone High Street). The Initiative is especially grateful for the support of Westminster City Council without whom little progress would have been possible. The arrival of these new trees for Eastern Marylebone marks the first extensive return of trees to the area since these streets were first laid out in the mid 1700's. We are also grateful for the enthusiastic support we have received from the members of the Marylebone Association at the organisation's recent Annual General Meeting. Finally, we would like to personally thank every volunteer who supported our activities and helped us collect contributions for our trees during the many phases of the Initiative. Without your help we would not have been able to deliver these wonderful results. All tree planting is subject to local authority survey and consent. For further information please see: http://w1wtrees.wordpress.com/ http://www.facebook.com/urbantreeplanter