GREEN-FINGERED residents and students from a Coventry primary school have been ‘digging in’ to plant 20 large blossom trees in the city.
Pupils from All Saints Primary School and residents have helped shape the blossom and natural play space in Charterhouse Heritage Park off London Road.
The tree planting is part of the Blossom Together in Coventry project being delivered in partnership with the National Trust and Historic Coventry Trust.
The scheme has been made possible thanks to the funds raised by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.
Victoria Halford, the National Trust’s senior project co-ordinator, said: “The students revelled in the tree planting activities, with many making plans to play in the space when spring arrives which was fantastic.”
She added residents were also invited to adopt and plant a tree.
“We were bowled over by the positive response from the community wanting to get involved,” she said.
“Beautiful stories emerged from each group as they connected with nature, explaining why the tree planting was meaningful to them.
“Many of the trees have been planted in memory of loved ones.”
Four different varieties of blossom tree – an ornamental pear, a cherry plum and two types of ornamental cherry – were planted to encourage more wildlife.
Coventry-based Beechwood Trees has installed braces and mulch to help support the trees as they establish.
Sarah Allen, The Historic Coventry Trust’s education and engagement manager, said: “The tree planting has been a major milestone in the project, with the next big event being the official opening in April 2024 ready for the National Trust’s Blossom Watch celebrations.
“It will be a great place for families and children to explore and it will also create attractive habitats for wildlife to flourish.”
The project aims to create a place where the community can connect with nature and enjoy the seasonal delights of blossoming trees and there will be a small natural play space for children and families.
The work supports the National Trust’s ambition to give communities more access to nature through the creation of green spaces and planting blossom trees, especially in cities where access to nature may be more limited.
Visit Charterhouse or @NTBirmingham and @HistCovTrust on X (formerly Twitter) and historiccoventrytrust.org.uk/news/blossom-together-in-coventry/ for more information.
