Norwood Forum has been working with Lambeth Council and Open Orchard to identify planting opportunities to increase the number of trees in our area. The Forum is pleased that Lambeth Council is now funding the provision of new tree pits and street trees where pavements and roads are being renewed as part of their “Highways Improvement Scheme”.

In 2019/20, the following pavements and roads in our area are to be improved; these are the relevant extracts from the council report:

"Gipsy Hill; Gipsy Hill Ward; footway: partial resurface

St Gothard Road; Gipsy Hill Ward; carriageway: partial resurface

Park Hall Road; Gipsy Hill & Thurlow Park Wards; footway: resurface in full

Tivoli Road; Knights Hill Ward; carriageway: resurface in full

Wolfington Road; Knights Hill Ward; footway: resurface in full

Ardlui Road: Thurlow Park Ward; carriageway: partial resurface between Chestnut Road and Idmiston Road" 

These works give the opportunity for building new tree pits in resurfaced pavements and possible build outs in resurfaced roads.

Trees benefit local communities in many ways including:

• Tree lined avenues have a positive effect on people as they are pleasing to the eye, providing a greener and more beautiful environment.
• Provide homes for wildlife (especially in our built up areas).
• Reduce noise impact from traffic by acting as a sound barrier.
• Absorb pollution such as those produced from car exhausts. They filter this pollution maintaining the quality of the air we breathe. 
• Trees can have a positive impact on the incidence of asthma, skin cancer and stress related illnesses by filtering out polluted air, reducing smog formation, shading out solar radiation and providing an attractive, calming setting for recreation.
• Assist in moderating the urban heat island effect, absorb carbon dioxide, reduce rain run-off and increase bio-diversity.
• And more importantly for today, help reduce climate change by counteracting the effects of global warming.

Especially in their early years, street trees will need some care and attention, and we hope residents will be able to spare a few minutes per week to look after one tree. Typically, trees will require five litres of water per week between April and September and twice per week during prolonged hot or dry periods.

Norwood Forum will be delivering a letter to the residents of the roads concerned to ask if they will be prepared to water a new street tree and if they would favour a particular species outside or near their home: see tree catalogue here.

The final decision for planting will be subject to the outcome of a Tree Officer survey.