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Planting Our Future
Find all the latest news from Planting Our Future below, as well as all of our highlights here
23rd November 2023
Celebrating National Tree Week
Grow a Tree in 23
Solihull Council is celebrating National Tree Week (Saturday 25 November – Sunday 3 December) by planting over 400 trees across the borough.
The Council will also be marking National Tree Week with a wide variety of projects. These include planting a weeping willow tree at Nethercote Gardens for the winning resident of the ‘Win A Gift That Keeps On Growing’ competition, cherry trees with the Friends of Shirley Park at Shirley Park and celebration trees that residents have sponsored in Hope Coppice.
1st November 2023
Solihull Tree Wardens
take on ambitious tree value project
Solihull Tree Wardens have been given new tools to help measure the environmental benefits and values of our local trees, including their carbon production.
The Tree Warden team are a group of like-minded volunteers who protect trees within the Solihull community, safeguarding our environment and heritage for Solihull’s future generations.
They are working with Solihull Council’s Planting Our Future team and idverde UK to protect and promote trees in parks and green spaces around the borough. The Solihull Tree Wardens are involved in planting, pruning, and watering care for local trees, organising tree walks and monitoring tree welfare.
18th October 2023
Growing equality in Forestry
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New apprenticeships are open to women to encourage them to start a career in Forestry.
Working along with idverde UK, Solihull Council are supporting equality in the forestry sector through their apprenticeship scheme.
The 24-month apprenticeships give aspiring arborists the chance to get a level two qualification in forestry. The industry hopes this apprenticeship will boost the number of women working in forestry to grow equality in the sector.
The scheme has already seen women joining the industry. Candice recently joined as an apprentice for idverde UK, in-which she joined forestry officers on site once a week for training.
6th July 23
Solihull Council says please show some love for young trees
Solihull Council’s tree planting campaign, Planting Our Future, has partnered up with the Arboricultural Association to ask local residents to help young trees during our increasingly dry summer months. Trees needing help will have special ‘Please Water Me’ tags attached.
Planting Our Future decided to join the national campaign after last year’s low rainfall – the lowest since 1976 – to help support the thousands of trees that are being planted across the borough. Although all newly planted trees have a watering schedule in place for the first three summers, the campaign asks residents to give additional watering support to newly planted trees during dry spells.
10 Nov 22
Trees from the The Queen’s Green Canopy planted at two Solihull schools
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Two schools in Solihull have each received one of 350 British native trees that formed part of The Queen’s Green Canopy ‘Tree of Trees’ sculpture outside Buckingham Palace to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
On Thursday 4 November, Windy Arbor Primary School in Chelmsley Wood was awarded a Silver Birch, in a planting attended by Deputy Lieutenant Professor Sir Nigel Thrift and the Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Ken Meeson. They were joined by Head Teacher, Miss J. Taylor, Windy Arbor’s Eco-Lead, Miss A. Povey, and children from the school’s Eco Team.
25 April 22
Solihull becomes ‘Tree City of the World’
Solihull has been awarded ‘Tree City of the World’ status in recognition of its urban tree planting programme. It is one of just 19 areas in the UK to have the international award.
The awards are given by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations with the intention of creating an international network of towns and cities dedicated to fostering the best urban forestry practices.
24 Feb 22
Solihull Council and the National Trust announce Planting Our Future partnership
Solihull Council has pledged to plant 250,000 trees in ten years and is delighted to have partnered with the National Trust teams at Baddesley Clinton and Packwood.
The National Trust is committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030 and Solihull Council’s overarching aim is to achieve net zero carbon emissions in the borough by 2041. As well as being an important tool to tackle the climate crisis, trees provide people and wildlife with a whole host of benefits from increasing biodiversity to capturing carbon and reducing pollution levels.
Trees Planted in Langley Hall Park for Queen's Jubilee
2 Feb 22
The Queen’s Deputy Lieutenant Professor Sir Nigel Thrift joined the Leader of Solihull Council, Cllr Ian Courts, Langley School's Eco Club and local ward councillors to plant 54 trees at Langley Hall Park for The Queen’s Green Canopy – one for each country in The Queen’s Commonwealth. The event was sponsored by Platinum Jubilee Supporters, John Lewis.
The Queen’s Green Canopy is a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee this year.
27 Jan 22
State Bank of India Celebrate 100 years in the UK with Planting Our Future
On Thursday 27 January, the ‘Planting Our Future’ team planted 250 trees at 1st Solihull Scouts based in Lode Lane. The team was joined by a group of volunteers from State Bank of India, who helped us plant trees along the Scouts’ boundary.
State Bank of India has a global presence, operating in over 30 countries. In celebration of their 100th year in the UK, State Bank of India sponsored 100 of the trees that went into the ground.
10 Jan 22
Planting at Lavender Hall Park
10 Jan 22
Over the past few days, we have been planting up the ‘Green Flag’ awarded Lavender Hall Park with the help of volunteers from Touchwood Shopping Centre and Brownie Guides.
Lavender Hall Park now has the addition of two tree-lined paths, consisting of over 40 trees, 20 of which sponsored by Touchwood in honour of their 20th Anniversary which was celebrated last year (2021). Volunteers from Touchwood joined us on the brisk January morning and helped to plant the trees they’d sponsored.
2021, That's a Wrap!
Another fantastic year! Seeing the Armed Forces Community Garden in all its glory and it receiving many special visitors, taking part in national campaigns, and the start of what is set to be a very successful planting season... we've loved every moment of it! Here are some of our highlights.
17 Dec 21
Mayor of Solihull opens Soroptimist International Centenary Wood in Dorridge Park
Solihull Council’s ‘Planting Our Future’ team has been working with a global volunteer organisation - Soroptimist International Solihull and District club - to plant a new 100-tree woodland in Dorridge Park. The woodland is part of Soroptimist International’s 100th anniversary celebrations.
15 Dec 21
Community Planting Day
Today we planted 5 cherry trees in Warwick Road with the help of some of the wonderful residents from the street, including their furry friend. The trees were positioned to complement existing trees in the area and will provide a beautiful pink canopy in the spring.
A big thank you to the group! It’s always fantastic to meet people who are as passionate about trees as we are!
We are now looking for locations for next planting season. If you have some land that you would like to plant up, please get in touch plantingourfuture@solihull.gov.uk
29 Nov 21
National Tree Week
National Tree Week (27 December – 5 December) is the UK’s largest annual tree celebration, marking the start of tree planting season.
To kick things off, the ‘Planting Our Future’ team will be launching the refreshed ‘Shirley Tree Trail’, developed in conjunction with Solihull Tree Wardens and Friends of Shirley Park.
18 Nov 21
Bulb Planting to celebrate National Interfaith Week
Members of Solihull Faiths Forum decided they would like to do something within the community to celebrate National Interfaith Week, so when the opportunity came via the ’Planting Our Future’ team based in Solihull to do some bulb planting at HopeCoppice, they “jumped at it!”.
New symbol of hope at Katherine’s Wood
18 Oct 21
A new symbol of hope and tribute to all those affected by the pandemic has been installed at Katherine’s Wood.
The Hope Stone has been created to symbolise hope in difficult times, pay tribute to those who have suffered and give thanks to all those who helped.
Armed Forces Community Garden has a visit from Age UK Veterans Club
30 Sep 21
Yesterday (30 September), The Armed Forces Community Garden in Hillfield Park was visited by the Age UK Veterans Club.
The veterans entered through the archway and gathered at the circular seating area where they were greeted by the Planting Our Future team and Elaine Butler, Royal British Legion County President for Warwickshire & Birmingham, who then spoke to the group about the garden and its meaning.
The one hectare span of The Armed Forces Community Garden has been carefully designed to help veterans and the community alike to heal in a place of peace and tranquillity, with both mental and physical needs in mind. From the circular seating area with its embracing design, to the gabion basket panelled walls and seating specially designed to reduce anxiety for its users.
Natural haven being developed in Solihull
29 Sep 21
Work is well underway to create a memorial woodland for the victims of Covid-19 on a sprawling piece of green space in Shirley.
The next phase of activity at Hope Coppice started earlier this month, with the creation of boardwalks, new pathways and a natural play area.
Originally earmarked for hundreds of home by the council, the area was struck from a list of development sites following a spirited campaign by the local community.
Birmingham Mail
The Great Big Green Week
27 Sep 21
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On Friday 24 September, Friends of Shirley Park hosted an event in Shirley Park as part of The Great Big Green Week, an environmental initiative to showcase actions being taken to help tackle climate change.
One part of the event included students from Kingswood School participating in some environmental educational activities that were on offer throughout the day, the children ranging from infants to juniors (5 to 10 years). The ‘Planting Our Future’ team (with support from Love Solihull and Friends of Shirley Park) assisted the children in planting over 70 cherry tree seeds in their very own bio-degradable pots...
Hope Coppice
1 Sep 21
Stepping beams, balance logs and boardwalks are among the works starting next month at Hope Coppice – the new woodland that is being created in remembrance of those affected by Covid-19.
Situated on land predominantly in Dickens Heath Parish between Blythe and Shirley South, Hope Coppice will be a place for people to remember and reflect on the pandemic.
Solihull Council and Royal British Legion Armed Forces Community Garden now open to public
25 Aug 21
Solihull Council’s Planting Our Future team, who pledged to plant 250,000 trees over the next ten years as part of its commitment to tackle climate change as well as implementing green infrastructure, in conjunction with the Royal British Legion Warwickshire and Birmingham County, have created a ‘healing garden’ for veterans, named The Armed Forces Community Garden (AFCG), which is now open for the public to enjoy.
Love Parks Week
26 Jul 21
Keep Britain Tidy’s annual Love Parks Week is now upon us! During the week ahead, Love Parks Week calls on park visitors to Love, Respect, and Protect our parks; not only during the campaign week and summer 2021, but beyond.
Over the past year, our parks and green spaces have been a vital lifeline to many of us; seeing us through lockdowns by providing scenic backdrops for our activities, from winter walks to summer picnics - our parks have been there.
Tree of Hope
1 Apr 20
In March 2020 the #LoveSolihull team asked the community to take part in a ‘Tree of Hope’ Campaign, with an aim to share colour, hope and love!
Over 200 drawings were shared on social media. These drawings have been displayed within a rainbow on Malvern Park gates and put up within the Nightingale hospital.
Here are some photos of some of the children next to or planting their ‘Tree of Hope’ #PlantingOurFuture #TreeofHope
Tree-mendous News
1 Jun 20
Wood you believe it? As of July 2020 we have partnered up with the Woodland Trust Solihull Council and the Woodland Trust have agreed a long term partnership which will see the Trust providing 11,886 trees in the first year at a cost of nearly £23,000 as a contribution towards the Council's Planting Our Future project.
Stuart Holm, Outreach Manager for Woodland Trust, said: "We're delighted to be able to support the work of Solihull Council and its tree planting ambitions. As well as being an important tool in tackling the climate crisis, trees within urban environments provide a whole host of benefits for people and wildlife including shade provision, improvement in air quality, and habitat creation for all kinds of wildlife. We're looking forward to getting stuck in this coming winter, when trees start going in the ground."