Council fund boosts plans for Islington 'urban forest'

Up to 200 trees which formed an interactive installation at London’s Somerset House this summer are being introduced around Islington.

The trees were displayed by artist Es Devlin after she discovered a 250-year-old rule banning trees from the elegant courtyard.

They were donated to Islington Forest for Change and residents were asked to suggest places to plant them.

More than 100 people came up with 300 locations, including housing estates, under-used open spaces, and vacant roadside tree pits.

Residents, community groups and schools will join in community planting events this autumn.

Islington Clean Air Parents raised £17,213 towards transporting and planting the 200 trees. They also secured other funding, including £5,000 sponsorship from businesses.

Islington Council’s tree team will care for them.

Car Free Open Space which will have the largest planting of trees to create a mini-woodland and the area will be renamed Islington Forest for Change (Image: Islington Clean Air Parents)

One of the project’s founders, Lucy Facer, said: “These trees signify a healthier future for children in Islington. It is important we take action to improve air quality now, whilst our children are young and so vulnerable to the long-lasting effects of air pollution.”

She added: “The trees will be planted in spaces including parks, schools and housing estates and will increase greenery and reduce air pollution in our borough, which has the least natural space in the UK.”

The £4,400 comes from the council’s local initiatives fund, which councillors can use for priorities in their wards.

Each ward has an allocation of £14,000 to spend on local schemes this financial year, with the exception of Bunhill and Clerkenwell, which each had an allocation of £14,500. So far this year councillors have recommended 32 applications from 30 groups and approved schemes totalling £60,782. They have £182,089 left in the budget for the year.