Preston awarded ‘Champion City’ status under Queen’s green space scheme

Sunshine in Avenham and Miller Park during Tuesday 13 April Pic: Tony Worrall

Preston has received ‘Champion City’ status under The Queen’s Green Canopy tree planting initiative.

The scheme, celebrating the Queen’s Jubilee and marking National Tree Week, highlights the leadership, dynamism, and influence of the nation’s outstanding cities, which have trees and woodland as a central part of their green space plans.

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“As the Golden Jubilee City 2002, we are honoured to take an active role in this unique, sustainable legacy commemorating 70 years of service.

“The trees planted in Preston will be appreciated and well-loved by residents and communities across all generations.”

As part of its work highlighting urban greening initiatives, the QGC invited cities across the United Kingdom to apply for the status.

The initiative seeks to celebrate cities with trees and woodlands as a central part of their plans. They include dynamic green recovery plans or green city charters, as well as community-oriented environmental projects.

Councillor Robert Boswell, the cabinet member for environment and community safety at Preston City Council, said: “The Queen’s Green Canopy is a brilliant, sustainable way for Preston to mark the Platinum Jubilee, and we are proud to be a Champion City.

“As a city with multiple Green Flag awards, we have long since demonstrated that our parks and green spaces are of utmost importance – not only to the council but to our residents and communities.

“This was made abundantly clear during the pandemic when so many used our parks for their daily exercise, finding both mental and physical health benefits. Investing further into these spaces by planting additional trees is for the good of all of us.”

The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) will also unveil another key initiative during National Tree Week this month, 27 November to 5 December – a community-led project to plant 10,000 trees in Bradford.

On Saturday 27 November at Newhall Park in Bradford, the QGC will come together with the local community, schools and voluntary groups of all ages to plant the trees as part of the council’s ‘Tree for Every Child’ programme.

Working in partnership with Trees for Cities and the City of Bradford Metropolitan Council, the QGC will continue its programme to support urban greening in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation and low canopy cover.

Further details will be announced closer to the time. It follows the successful delivery of the QGC’s first urban greening project in Tower Hamlets in October. The QGC and Trees for Cities will deliver projects in all four nations of the UK as part of the Platinum Jubilee year.

Greater Manchester and Leicester will host community Champion Cities events on the 4 and 5 December.