Plant Preston launches with everyone encouraged to plant a tree

Younger trees in Winckley Square are struggling to get enough light to grow — Trees in Winckley Square

A two-week city-wide campaign has been launched to invite everyone across Preston to get planting.

Plant Preston fortnight began on Wednesday 2 March as Preston was chosen as a Champion City in 2021 for The Queen’s Green Canopy national campaign.

The campaign aims to encourage people all around the UK to plant more trees and there are many plantings taking place in Preston already, but it’s not too late to get involved.

300 saplings are being given away to residents by Preston City Council to plant during the fortnight.

Saplings will be available for free collection from the Town Hall and Avenham Pavilion over the next two weeks.

If you collect a tree, please send a photo or video of you planting it, with your name, and the area of Preston where the planting has been done, then we can share this via our social media channels.

On behalf of the city for Plant Preston, Preston City Council will plant two commemorative trees in our much-loved Moor Park and Avenham Park.

The council has worked in partnership with, Barton, Cottam and Lea, Grimsargh and Whittingham parish councils to plant commemorative trees in their parishes.

As well as the commemorative trees, 150 saplings will be planted at the cemetery later this month and Christmas trees that were part of the Preston Markets festive display have been planted behind the rock garden in Avenham Park.

52 Preston schools will also have trees delivered by the council, which will be planted by their pupils within the Plant Preston fortnight.

Local Preston businesses Community Gateway Association and Cassidy and Ashton have also been involved, planting on their land and supporting local planting community groups.

Mayor of Preston, Councillor Javed Iqbal, said: “The Queens Green Canopy initiative is a wonderful opportunity for Prestonians to be part of not only a local but a national drive to plant more trees.

“Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to plant, donate and share photos of what they have planted so far. I am delighted that over 50 Preston schools, parish councils and local businesses have all come forward to take part.

“Now that the Plant Preston fortnight has begun, I invite you to join me in planting, by picking up a free sapling and making our city a little greener.”

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Will you be planting a tree during this fortnight? Let us know in the comments below.