Barking and Dagenham Council are well on the way to fulfilling a pledge to plant 50,000 trees across the borough by 2030, with £180,000 secured in funding for over 36,000 trees to be planted this year.

With investment from the council’s Carbon Offset Fund, plus a contribution from Trees for Climate, the borough is set to benefit from thousands of trees planted across three parks during the planting season in; Castle Green, Goresbrook Park and Eastbrookend Country Park.

The Miyawaki tree planting method will be used to create new, biodiverse native woodlands by using species of trees that would occur naturally in that area and that work together to create a diverse, multi-layered forest community.

Councillor Saima Ashraf, Deputy Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, said: “This is brilliant news and brings us even closer to our pledge target. And it wouldn’t be possible without our community champions and local volunteers continue to roll up their sleeves to make a real difference in the borough – it is so appreciated. So, if you’ve got some spare time on your hands, come and join us! I really look forward to seeing these wonderful trees grow and thrive for many years to come.”

Councillor Kashif Haroon, Cabinet Member for Public Realm and Climate Change, said: “This work is so important to ensure our borough remains green and sustainable, particularly in the face of climate challenges. Planting thousands of extra trees is going to bring so many benefits to our local communities, including creating new habitats for wildlife and improving air quality.”

Look out for further tree planting opportunities to get involved in at www.barkinganddagenhamcountryparks.com