LRS Green Force continues to support Trees for Cities. Here, the team tell us more about their recent tree planting adventures…
On a cold but sunny morning in March, fifteen LRS Green Force Champions arrived in Ilford with a mission: To support Trees for Cities in the redevelopment of a small park near Goodmayes Station. This was not the first time LRS supported Trees for Cities – in 2019 members of the LRS Green Force spent a day planting over 350 trees, saplings and shrubs at Horsenden Farm, to create a green walkway for the local community to enjoy.
This time, our mission was to plant young trees in Barley Lane Park, as part of a bigger community project led by Trees for Cities, to rejuvenate and uplift this small green space in overdeveloped Ilford. Barley Lane Park is the only park in the area, and sadly, due to lack of funding in the past, most of the trees in the park had been cut down.
Trees for Cities is working in partnership with the London Borough of Redbridge and Vision Redbridge Culture & Leisure to plant over 40 new trees in the park to create habitats for wildlife and add splashes of colour throughout the seasons for the local community to enjoy.
Not dealing with saplings and shrubs this time, but larger young trees, the team toiled and sweat under the watchful eye of Trees for Cities project leader Felix to plant 11 young trees across the park. It was encouraging to have so many locals coming up to us to thank us and telling us about their own involvement and excitement about the project.
LRS Green Force was started by members of the Lexington Reception Services team to make small environmental and social changes in their work life, their local community and the wider London. The team focus on an initiative every month and encourage the wider team and client community to get involved in these initiatives. Our continued support of Trees for Cities has also led to wider projects such as beach clean-ups and a planned Thames Riverbed clean-up.
Trees for Cities is the only UK charity working at a national and international scale to improve lives by planting trees in cities. They work with local communities to cultivate lasting change in their neighbourhoods – whether it’s revitalising forgotten spaces, creating healthier environments or getting people excited about growing, foraging and eating healthy food.
