Residents Encouraged to Create Green Spaces Under Trees

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Initiative welcomed and supported by Hammersmith Community Gardens Association

Green-fingered residents are being encouraged by Hammersmith & Fulham Council to plant flowers, herbs and shrubs at the base of trees across the borough.

They are being invited to use the bare soil at the base of trees across the borough to make their own green space which could be a herb patch, butterfly garden or a beautiful patch of flowers.

" This will be a small but important tactic to meet our aspiration of becoming the greenest, most environmentally-friendly borough in the country," says H&F Council Leader Stephen Cowan.

" We will support any residents who want to do this and look forward to seeing more of our borough in bloom. We’re also working up plans for an annual competition with prizes for the best community planting. "

The scheme has been welcomed and supported by environmental charity, Hammersmith Community Gardens Association, which manages two community gardens in the Hammersmith area, Godolphin and Loris, the glasshouses in Ravenscourt Park and Phoenix School Farm and Learning Zone in White City.

" Through our work we are aware that there is an increasing interest from people who are keen to improve their local areas," says association chair Cathy Maund.

" In a borough as densely populated as H&F all green space is at a premium, however small. So we would be happy to advise any local residents who want to adopt and plant up a tree pit."

“We’re doing our best to change the culture at H&F Council so it’s easier for residents to get things done in the neighbourhoods they live in and care about,” said Cllr Wesley Harcourt, H&F Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Residents’ Services. 

“We want to work with residents to improve their neighbourhoods. We are giving people the freedom to make things better. So if you’ve got some left over plants or seeds and you want to brighten up your street, our message is go ahead.”

Avoiding spiky plants, pesticides and species of plant which might grow too large will be some of the common-sense criteria that the council will produce to help make this scheme work. The council says its street maintenance contractors will be expected to respect and support residents’ efforts.

It follows the recent announcement by the council that it will no longer allow the use of glyphosate weed killers in public spaces. It says other initiatives aimed at improving local streets include new investment in street cleaning and refuse collection, eco-friendly drainage schemes, reduced speed limits on residential roads and a new play streets scheme.

 

June 23, 2016