Showing posts with label trees for cities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trees for cities. Show all posts

Urban trees save hundreds of lives and billions of dollars each year in the U.S.

Trees in Chicago photoA new study by the USDA's Forest Service tells us what all good treehuggers already knew; trees are good for you, especially if you live in a urban area. While it's impossible to know exactly what benefits the urban trees bring us - including many psychological ones - the researchers have tried to estimate their impact using computer simulations. Results: About 850 lives are saved each year, the number of acute respiratory symptoms is lower by about 670,000 incidents each year, and the total health care savings attributed to pollution removal by trees is around $7 billion a year. Not bad!

The researchers estimate that the trees in the U.S. removed 17.4 million tonnes of air pollution in a single year. While the air filtration done by trees is much higher in rural areas, the benefits are bigger in urban areas because population density and pollution are denser.

Read more: http://www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/urban-trees-save-hundreds-lives-and-billions-dollars-each-year-us.html

Trees for Cities and Servite hold planting day on Finchley estate

The independent charity Trees for Cities, in partnership with Servite Houses are having a day of shrub planting fun on St Mary’s Green in the Thomas Moore Estate, East Finchley, on February 22.

Trees for Cities are calling on local residents and volunteers to lend a hand with digging and planting of 500 shrubs of variety of plant species; including Lesser Periwinkle, Bearberry and Windflower.

Kirsty Wedge, Community Events Coordinator at Trees for Cities, says: “Volunteer planting encourages community appreciation of nature; while offering a rewarding sense of achievement in helping the environment.”

Peggy Beckford, Servite Houses Regional Housing Manger for London, said: "Servite Houses wholeheartedly welcomes the opportunity to work in partnership with Trees for Cities.

"We're really keen to get as many residents as possible involved in shaping their communities, whether that is by enhancing the physical environment or working with us to improve our services.

"We think this initiative will give residents on the Thomas Moore estate a cleaner and greener local environment which they can enjoy for many years to come."

Trees for Cities is working in partnership with Servite Housing to improve the communal spaces within Thomas Moore Estate.

The project is part of a two year green initiative starting with St Mary’s Green; and aims to increase environmental awareness, whilst helping to improve the area for local residents.

Free activities will also be available on the day and include; woodland arts and crafts, a scavenger hunt, face painting and light refreshments.