'Pioneering' tree project to bring greenery back to urban Northampton streets set for completion

Eleven new street trees will be planted in Far Cotton in February at the end of a pioneering project to bring greenery back to urban Northampton.

The pilot project spearheaded by community group Save Our Street Trees will bring "a street full of trees" back to Penrhyn Road.

Save Our Street Trees will be reinstating 11 hornbeams and flowering prunus on Penrhyn Road, bringing the total of new trees to 21.

The project could become a blueprint for future urban tree plantings across the county.

Save Our Street Trees, a Woodland Trust Tree Charter branch, raised more than £1,000 towards the project, with donations from residents, Councillors Emma Roberts and Julie Davenport, and Delapre Abbey Preservation Trust.

The group also secured a £1,000 grant from the Idverde Community Investment Fund.

“We are very excited to see this pilot project reach its conclusion,” says local resident and Save our Street Trees chair Alice Whitehead. “There’s never been a more important time for people to see a greener view from their windows – and we know the trees will bring significant benefits to residents’ wellbeing and the local environment.”

“We have worked tirelessly on this project over the last four years. But it would not have been possible without the

ongoing support and expertise of councillors, The Woodland Trust, urban forester Russell Horsey and Northampton Borough Council’s environmental contractors Idverde.

"It is our hope that these kinds of urban tree projects will now be rolled out across the county, so that more of Northampton’s residents have access to trees near their homes.”

It comes after 10 trees were planted at the end of 2019 as part of the project.Joseph Coles, Urban Programmes Lead at The Woodland Trust, said: “We’re proud to have been involved in this project. It goes to show just what can be achieved with determination and collaboration.

“The benefits of trees on streets should not be underestimated. For resilience against climate change, bringing nature to our doorsteps, and for all of the health and wellbeing contributions they make to society. We hope to see more of this in Northampton in years to come.”

Northampton Borough Council cabinet member for environment Mike Hallam said: “It’s impossible to overstate the benefits trees bring to the urban landscape.

“We’re delighted to be part of this excellent initiative aiming to cherish, nurture, celebrate and improve our trees and green spaces offer. But we want to – and must – do even better."