Today (Saturday 28th November) is Tree Charter Day, which marks the start of National Tree Week. To celebrate, local residents have been taking part in the Forests of Imagination Gallery of People, Trees and Stories project coordinated by local community artist, Hilary Cox, for Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination.

Last month, councillors voted at a meeting to sign up to the UK’s Tree Charter, which has ten principles, believing in;

• thriving habitats for diverse species
• planting for the future
• celebrating the cultural impact of trees
• a thriving forestry sector that delivers for the UK
• better protection for important trees and woods
• enhancing new developments with trees
• understanding and using the natural health benefits of trees
• access to trees for everyone
• addressing threats to woods and trees through good management
• strengthening landscapes with woods and trees

Cllr Lewis Herbert (Coleridge), Leader of Cambridge City Council, spoke to project artist Hilary Cox about the importance of our city’s trees, and protecting their legacies;

“We are so lucky in Cambridge with our rich legacy of trees of all kinds across the city, which are precious for people, for wildlife and adding so much to our open spaces and landscape.  They are an inspiration too for our artists and photographers and for residents from 1 to 111. And we celebrate the fact that the City Council and our Tree Canopy partnership are currently adding over 2000 more extra trees.
So next time you go for a walk get a picture of yourself and those you love with a tree that you think is truly special, treasure it and share it.”

Photos can be shared on Twitter tagging @camtrees and @CamCanopyProject #NationalTreeWeek #TreeCharterDay. The city also has two tree trails at Cherry Hinton Hall and the Accordia site off Brooklands Avenue that you can follow here.

Cllr Katie Thornburrow, Executive Councillor for Open Spaces, welcomed the project as an important part of the city’s commitment to its tree strategy.

“I’m really proud of the work being done with our tree strategy.  We’ve committed to plant more trees, and make sure all new developments include tree planting as an important part of creating green, open spaces for all our residents to enjoy. I was so pleased that councillors voted to sign up to the UK’s Tree Charter – trees are essential to tackling climate change and improving biodiversity, something which Cambridge Labour is fully committed to achieving.”

More information on the city’s Tree Strategy (2016 – 2026) is available on the City Council web site here.