Target reached!
The more we raise, the more trees we will be able to plant. Our main focus is centr...
Trees for Reading
Reading, England, United Kingdom
Aim
Making Reading greener, healthier and happier by bringing more urban trees to our town.
HELP US MAKE OUR TOWN GREENER, HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER
Through our Trees for Reading initiative, we’re working to bring more urban trees to our town – Reading, Berkshire (UK).
Our main aim is to encourage organisations to fund the planting and care of trees, helping to make Reading a better place to live and work. But, in response to feedback, we've also set up a community tree planting fund so individuals who want to contribute can get involved.
Planting the first Trees for Reading tree in front of Thames Lido
Why are urban trees important?
Trees in towns and cities not only lock away carbon but also improve air quality and create a haven for wildlife. They help to cool the air in summer and absorb water from heavy rains. And, crucially, they create a better ambiance, helping to improve people’s mental and physical wellbeing.
How the initiative is set up
We developed Trees for Reading working closely with Reading Tree Wardens and Reading Borough Council, who will continue to work with us to ensure its success.
On their advice, we’re focusing on planting substantial young trees (3-3.5 metres tall and 12-14cm around the trunk) in carefully chosen locations, which will make an immediate impact. The council have committed to providing two years of care and maintenance, including watering, to maximise the chances of the trees surviving and thriving.
Our aim is to plant 10% of the trees within the Inner Distribution Road (IDR) and 50% in other areas close to the town centre that would benefit most from additional trees. These are likely to include schools and deprived neighbourhoods. The remaining 40% will be planted across the wider Reading area. The specific locations and trees will be selected based on advice from specialists at Reading Borough Council and Reading Tree Wardens.
Progress so far
Through our initial crowdfunding campaign, launched in November 2019, we raised £470. That enabled us to plant a very special tree, in association with Brighter Futures for Children, to help children in care feel Rooted in Reading.
We also planted seven other trees in the 2019-20 planting season thanks to funding from Thames Lido.
You can see the trees we've planted so far on an interactive map on our website.
Our first community-funded tree outside Reading Town Hall
How you can help
We welcome donations of any amount. We’ll mark the trees planted as a result of this campaign as having been funded by the community of Reading.
Let’s make Reading greener, healthier and happier together!
To find out more about Trees for Reading and how else you can get involved, visit www.ethicalreading.org.uk/trees-for-reading.
This project successfully funded on 31st December 2020