Another 120 trees will be planted across the borough this winter as part of the Wildlife Ways environmental initiative.
The £16.8 million project – part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund – has seen 1,056 trees planted over the last two years. With plans to plant another 120 trees over the next few months – including 18 mature trees along Green Lane in Castle Bromwich - the project is helping Solihull to reach its target of 250,000 trees over the next ten years.
Cllr Ian Courts, Leader of Solihull Council and the environment portfolio holder for the West Midlands Combined Authority said: “Over the last couple of years the Wildlife Ways team and our contractors have planted over a thousand trees across the borough, along with millions of bulbs and wildflowers. As well as making our streets and green spaces look even more beautiful, the planting supports and encourages wildlife and will improve our air quality dramatically.
“Of course anyone can plant a tree in their garden or at their school or on other land they own too and I would encourage people to do just that. It is incredibly satisfying and will benefit future generations. If you can plant a tree, please register it with the West Midlands Combined Authority Virtual Forest so that we can record all our efforts to plant 250,000 trees in Solihull by 2030.”
The 18 semi-mature trees in Castle Bromwich have been specially selected for a busy street and include narrow forms of hornbeam and field maple and small trees like ornamental hawthorn, whitebeam and rowan.
For more information about Wildlife Ways visit www.wildlifeways.co.uk
For more information about the West Midlands Virtual Forest visit www.wmvirtualforest.co.uk