Community tree planting in Birmingham helps flood scheme
Today (Thursday 17 March 2016) the Environment Agency teamed up with Birmingham City Council, Birmingham Trees for Life and pupils from a local school to plant 280 trees at Perry Hall playing fields in Perry Barr, Birmingham.
The Environment Agency team that joined Birmingham City Council, Birmingham Trees for Life and schoolchildren to plant 280 trees at Perry Hall playing fields in Perry Barr, Birmingham.
The tree planting event is part of the Perry Barr and Witton flood risk management scheme which involves constructing a low level wall through Witton and unfortunately removing a number of trees along the river to gain access. These are being replaced with new trees at Perry Hall playing fields.
Trees are really important in the urban environment as they help combat air pollution and the heat island effect by filtering air and providing shade and cover. They also help to slow down the rate at which water hits the ground and runs off into watercourses, as well as providing a place to live for animals and insects.
Adam Deeks, Environment Agency Project Manager, said:
The Perry Barr and Witton flood scheme will help to reduce the risk of flooding from the River Tame for 100s of properties. As part of that work, it’s fantastic that we’re able to work with the local community in making improvements in the surrounding area, by planting these trees.
Jane Harding, from Birmingham Trees for Life, said:
We’re delighted to be helping the Environment Agency in involving local people in planting trees that will improve the environment in Perry Barr. Planting trees is a valuable experience for children and young people who live in the city.
Birmingham City Council’s cabinet member for sustainability, Cllr Lisa Trickett, said:
The city understands the value and importance of trees and their contribution to our environment. The planting at Perry Barr will help with water management in the area and support our efforts to combat climate change. They will also give a great deal of pleasure to local people.
The planting at Perry Barr will see a mixture of young trees - including oak, field maple, hazel, black poplar, hawthorn and wild cherry – and brings the total number of trees planted in Birmingham this winter to 8,000 across 32 different species.
Notes to editors
The Perry Barr and Witton flood risk management scheme in Birmingham stretches from the Forge Mill in Sandwell Valley to Hurricane Business Park, near Bromford.
The Perry Barr and Witton scheme is 1 of 4 separate projects that take forward the recommendations of the River Tame flood risk management strategy (published in May 2011), which aims to reduce flood risk to people and property along the River Tame.
There are approximately 1,400 properties at risk within the floodplain through the Perry Barr and Witton section of the River Tame; this includes 950 residential properties.
Birmingham Trees for Life
Birmingham Trees for Life (BTFL), the local tree-planting organisation for Birmingham, aims to involve local children and adults in planting trees across the City of Birmingham.
BTFL is a partnership between the City Council and the Birmingham Civic Society – all trees are planted on public land owned and managed by the Council.