Islington Council has planted more street trees since October than it had to remove in the last year -- and an extra 200 will be planted by the end of April. <br><br>The authority was forced to remove some trees this year, as every year, after their regular audit of all street trees revealed a number were dead, dying or dangerous. <br><br>A tree-planting ceremony was held in Ockendon Road, N1, this week to mark the first of the 200 new trees -- and to highlight that the borough is getting greener. <br><br>Councillor Ruth Polling, Islington Council's Executive Member for Leisure and Equalities, was joined by a number of local residents to plant the tree and celebrate the number of new trees which are being planted this year. <br><br>Councillor Polling said: "Our residents are rightly proud of Islington's trees - and we don't take it lightly when we have to remove them. <br><br>"Of course, there are cases where this simply has to be done and all trees have a life cycle and do eventually get diseases or die. <br><br>"But we're replanting more than we're removing, to make sure Islington becomes even greener." <br><br>The number of trees on Islington's streets has increased by an average of two per cent every year, for the last five years.<br> <br>The tree planted in Ockendon Road this week was a "Ginkgo Biloba" - otherwise known as the Maidenhair Tree. <br><br>It is grown for its attractive shape and fan-shaped leaves which turn yellow in autumn. This species of tree rarely suffers from disease and is attacked by few insects - making it an excellent urban street tree. <br><br>ENDS <br><br>For more information please call Chris Weeks on 020 7527 3032 <br><br>PHOTO CAPTION: (L-R) Local residents Alan Peake, Dave Thomas, Councillor Ruth Polling, Dr Dale Beckett, Tony Campbell and Julie Davies.
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009