Planting trees to make Ipswich a greener place and improve air quality

How you can become a volunteer tree warden

The Greener Ipswich Taskforce has welcomed plans to recruit a small army of volunteer tree wardens to work across our town.

For the past year Greener Ipswich has been developing initiatives for planting in public spaces in the town, with a Green Trail linking the town centre from Christchurch Park down to the Waterfront.

Now those ambitious targets will be boosted by Ipswich becoming designated as a Tree City of the World, one of only 19 in the UK, with a Tree Charter spelling out pledges on tree planting in the town and for improving the environment.

A network of tree wardens will help maintain and support existing landmark trees as well as growing and planting more in public spaces and woodland within parks.

A spokesman for Ipswich Borough Council said they wanted to identify opportunities for new planting in the community and even private gardens.

This links directly in to proposals from the Greener Ipswich Taskforce which wants town centre trees and gardens to make the town centre more attractive and help tackles climate change. Mature trees are a win, win because they also help improve air quality.

The town centre has several poor air quality hotspots which need action.

Greener Ipswich vice-chair Richard Bloomfield said: “Planting trees, and looking after trees that are already growing, is a key part of our strategy so we welcome this. Trees not only make the town more attractive but they provide shade in hot weather like we have had recently and they improve air quality. They are also important for green corridors for wildlife. We are very ambitious and I am sure our Greener Ipswich volunteers will want to support this.”

The Queen’s Green Canopy, in Suffolk, aims to plant half a million trees plus hedgerow restoration. Oliver Paul, for the Queen’s Green Canopy project added: “This is great news. It is very important for Ipswich. We have to look at the whole of Suffolk.The Green Canopy is about more than parishes and villages. It needs to take place in our urban areas too and this is a great community initiative in Ipswich.”

How will it work?

A network of volunteer wardens will be recruited across the town, from all walks of life. No experience is necessary as training will be given by professionals.

Tasks could include watering and caring for an individual tree near a person’s home, to growing young trees from local seed, or joining a team of volunteers working in one neighbourhood of the town.

To find out more go to:
https://www.ipswich.gov.uk/content/volunteering-our-parks-and-countryside

or download a poster here (PDF)

Telephone: 01473 433998 to put your name forward.

It is open to all ages but under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

At the launch of Tree City councillor Phil Smart said: “Ipswich benefits from many green areas and great parks that have lots of trees. It’s no surprise to me that we have become of the few towns and cities in Britain that have been awarded the status of inclusion in Tree Cities of the World.

We have been planting trees as well as expanding the events programme in parks and installing better Changing Places toilets that, in particular, help people with disabilities visit. All this means that our trees in our parks, never mind those planted on roads and in open areas, are enjoyed by more people and make Ipswich a great tree city.”

There is already a very successful volunteer scheme run by the Friends of Holywells Park which could act as a model or other areas. It carries out regular litter picking and important landscape work in the beautiful park.