Trees for Streets
Coventry City Council has partnered with the charity Trees for Streets to make it easier for residents to sponsor new tree planting in their local streets and parks.
Trees for Streets is funded by the government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund. It aims to support the planting of more than a quarter of a million street trees nationwide over the next ten years.
You can choose to sponsor a Street Tree right outside your house, or sponsor a Celebration Tree in one of Coventry’s beautiful parks or recreation grounds.
This is just one of a number of innovative strategies the council is using to to plant more trees in local streets, parks and green spaces, to help reduce air pollution, absorb carbon, improve mental and physical wellbeing for residents and generally make Coventry an even nicer place to live.
How the scheme works
You choose the location (subject to survey). A tree will be expertly selected to suit your chosen location. You can take on the job of watering the tree – (this is entirely up to you).
Make a £195 sponsorship donation if you water the tree or a £310 sponsorship donation if you want Coventry City Council to do the watering. Donation payments are only taken once your sponsorship is confirmed.
Your sponsorship includes: a 5-7 year-old “instant impact” tree, standing at between 3-4 metres high, with two stakes and a crossbar to support it; it will also have a watering tube installed around the root ball. The exact specification may change depending on availability and practical considerations.
Your sponsorship request will be confirmed within 6 weeks.
The council will plant your tree in the winter. You’ll be sent watering reminders throughout the summer months.
Find out more on on the Trees for Streets website.
What if my tree dies or is vandalised?
Coventry City Council will do their best to replace the tree on up to 2 occasions during the first 5 years after it has been planted. Although the council cannot predict what financial position it will be in, they will try to accommodate.
If you have agreed to water the tree, and fail to do so, the council may reserve the right not to replace it in these circumstances.
Trees for Streets is a charitable enterprise that hosts and promotes local street tree sponsorship schemes on behalf of local councils. Each local council set the details of its own street tree sponsorship donation scheme.
How to get involved
Beyond sponsoring a tree, there are lots of other ways for you to get involved.
Once each street tree is planted, it will need watering every week throughout the summer for three years to give it the best chance of survival. Any litter or weeds will need removing as well to make sure it thrives.
By donating your time (and water) to care for street trees, you’ll be contributing to a legacy for your community.
It’s also a great opportunity to chat with neighbours and enjoy the fresh air these trees provide.