The council is currently watering the trees weekly to help them get established. Residents are asked to keep an eye on the new trees and give them extra water if it gets very dry and hot over the coming months.
Councillor Rezina Chowdhury, Deputy Leader (Sustainable Lambeth and Clean Air), said: “Our teams are now out watering the new trees, but because it’s been so dry there’s an unusually high need this Spring.
“This year we want our trees to enjoy the sunny weather as much as everyone else. So don’t be shy, get out there and help out local trees if we do another extended period of dry and sunny weather.”
Lambeth Council is aiming to plant 5,000 new trees over four years, by 2026, an ambition that is on target to be met.
This winter’s planting season has included nearly 1,400 new street trees, 207 on council estates, 350 in parks and open spaces – with 100 added to Brockwell Park – and 70 new trees at local schools. The planting programme was supported by local people who volunteered.
This winter more than 150 different species of trees were planted during the season which run from October to early April. The total planted over this winter is an increase of almost 300 trees on last year’s winter planting programme.
Cllr Chowdhury said: “This huge tree planting effort has been across Lambeth, and we have been concentrating on areas that had the fewest trees which helps create local benefits such as reducing the flood risk and creating shade during hot weather.”
The council also has a Tree Guardian programme which more than 100 local people have signed up to so far. For residents interested in finding out more, including becoming more involved in the borough’s tree planting and tree care efforts visit lambeth.gov.uk.
