Natural England

Residents are invited to plant their own tree at the Stratford and West Ham Plant for Life event on Saturday, February 16th.

The free, fun event – the fifth in a series of community forum planting days – will be held from 11am to 4pm at West Ham Park, Portway.

People will have the opportunity to get great gardening tips through taking part in ‘do one thing’ workshops and planting new trees in the park.

Workshops on wildlife gardening and how to be more environmentally aware will be hosted in the most prominent languages of the local area, including English, Polish, Bengali, Portuguese, Lithuanian and Somali.

Participants will also be able to build a nest box, sow wildflower seeds and find out how to take part in the park life photography competition and local environmental groups.

There will be arts and crafts activities for children as well as freebies and tasty refreshments.

Executive member for culture Councillor Jo Corbett, said: “It’s up to all of us to do our bit for our local environment and this is such a fun way to get involved. I hope people will take advantage of this excellent opportunity.”

The event is being held in partnership with City of London, who owns and manages West Ham Park, the BBC and Natural England, which works to conserve and enhance the natural environment for the benefit of people and wildlife.

Natural England’s London Regional Director, Alison Barnes said: “Gardens and urban greenspace are not only havens for wildlife, but they have major health and social benefits. Daily contact with nature brings the obvious physical benefits of encouraging people to be outdoors more often and is also good for the soul.” The community forum Plant for Life events are part of the council’s LIVE LIFE campaign and the local year of action for BBC Breathing Places, which encourages everyone to do one thing for nature.

Already more than 2,300 people, including 1,500 children, have got behind the year of action. Since last July they have planted 862 new trees, over 18,000 spring bulbs and built 432 nest boxes.

Newham has pledged to plant 2,012 new trees in the borough each year, including Birch, Hawthorn, Hazel, Alder, Ash and other native species.

For the full Plant for Life event listings including timings of the workshops, freephone 0800 519 4015, email community.forums@newham.gov.uk or visit www.newham.gov.uk/communityforums

Find out more about BBC Breathing Places at www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces

Notes to Editors:

For more information call Jo Mackie, Community Forums Communication Manager, on 020 8430 2835 or email jo.mackie@newham.gov.uk

The remaining Plant for Life events are:

Custom House and Canning town Community Forum
Sunday 24 February, 12noon-4pm
Memorial Recreation Ground, Memorial Avenue, West Ham E15

Saturday 29 March, 12noon-4pm
Canning Town Recreation Ground, Prince Regent Lane, Custom House E16

Sunday 30 March, 12noon-4pm
King George V Park, King George Avenue, Custom House E16

East Ham Community Forum
Sunday 2 March, 12noon-4pm
Roman Road Open Space, Roman Road, East Ham E6

Sunday 16 March, 12noon-4pm
Brampton Park, Masterman Road, East Ham E6

West Ham Park recently received a grant for £17,000 from Natural England to encourage biodiversity in the Park.

Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. It conserves and enhances the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people and the economic prosperity it brings.