5 minute read
Environmental Issues
from SE23 November 2020
by SE Magazines
Environmental News
With Stuart Checkley | Trustee: Street Trees for Living
“Tree Oscar” comes to Lewisham in 2020
Every year the Forestry Commission and the GLA jointly award prizes, known in the tree world as “Tree Oscars,” for the best tree projects in Greater London. It was announced on October 8th that Street
Trees for Living had won the award in the category of “Best Community Tree Project in 2020.” Street
Trees for Living is the charity which plants street trees in Lewisham. What impressed the judges was:
1) That by the end of this winter we will have planted 1000 street trees in Lewisham. 2) That of the trees we plant, only 5% fail to thrive. (For most Local Authorities failure rates are 30% or higher.) 3) The reason that our trees do so well is that local residents have paid for the trees and are watering them. We love our trees, we enjoy our trees and so of course we look after them.
Established communities such as schools and resident associations plant trees, as well as informal groups of tree enthusiasts on a street, who meet up as a result of someone leafleting their street. Sometimes an individual resident will sponsor and water a tree. Local tree enthusiasts have a large say in the choice of species of tree, although the Council has the final say. Not everyone wants a tree outside their house, and so we only plant trees in front of a house where the resident has signed a “tree welcome” form. The most popular tree in SE23 is the pink flowering crab apple Malus Rudolph. Close up, the flowers are red, as are young leaves, the autumn crab apples and the young bark. But there are trees for every location, and on the very highest parts of Forest Hill you will find the Tamarisk Tree: this tree, which is usually found on cliff tops, is a magnificent sight in a storm. And on the sunny South facing slopes, trees from hotter countries thrive, such as the Crepe Myrtle which this summer has flowered for the first time in Forest Hill. The Crepe Myrtle is one of the “future proofed” trees which will survive further climate change. Other trees are planted for autumn colour or winter berries, or other outstanding effects, such as the stunning white bark of the Himalayan Birch which can be enjoyed throughout the year. If you would like to help plant a tree in your street please contact:
stuart@streettreesforliving.org
if you live in Forest Hill
madeleine@streettreesforliving.org
if you live in Perry Vale. If you are interested in having a tree, please contact us as soon as possible, and certainly by the end of November.
Jonathan Douglas CBE
National Literacy Trust CEO recognised with CBE for services to literacy in Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2020
Jonathan Douglas, Chief Executive of the National Literacy Trust, has been recognised with a CBE for his services to literacy in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2020. He was acknowledged for his outstanding contribution to raising the profile of literacy in the UK and closing the literacy attainment gap between disadvantaged children and their better-off peers. Over a quarter of a century, Jonathan Douglas has progressed public and political understanding of literacy as not just an educational issue but one that has broad social and economic implications for the nation, and has united parties from the worlds of education, charity, government and business to bring about real change to children’s literacy outcomes in the UK. Appointed Chief Executive of the National Literacy Trust in 2007, he has revolutionised the operating model and strategic direction of the National Literacy Trust to support the literacy of growing numbers of disadvantaged children and young people year on year; increasing tenfold from 28,632 in 2007/08 to 268,490 in 2019/20. Sharon Lynch, Headteacher at St. William of York In his role, he has established the All-Party Catholic Primary School where Douglas is Chair Parliamentary Group on Literacy, the National of Governors, said: “Jonathan is a committed and Literacy Forum and the Vision for Literacy Business enthusiastic Chair of Governors. He provides strong Pledge and commissioned ground-breaking and effective strategic leadership and works in research on the relationships between literacy and close partnership with myself as Headteacher, the poverty, social mobility, criminal justice, health governors, staff and pupils at our school. He gives and life expectancy. his time and energy freely and generously, and Jonathan Douglas has also pioneered a local his focus is always on improving outcomes for our approach to tackling low literacy in the communities pupils, and this means socially, academically and with the most acute challenges. Having created a emotionally. measure of literacy vulnerability for every ward “The children know Jonathan by name and and constituency in England with Experian, he look forward to his visits. His visits on World Book subsequently developed a long-term approach Day are always memorable, particularly when he to raising literacy levels in these communities by joined assembly as Mr Magnolia! Jonathan shares convening key local partners and establishing 14 his knowledge, experience and enthusiasm for National Literacy Trust Hubs across the UK. literacy with parents, leading workshops which This approach has been adopted by the inspire parents so that they can be better equipped Department for Education as part of its social to support their own children and inspire a lifelong mobility action plan and has enabled him to love of reading. I am delighted that Jonathan has spearhead a partnership between the National gained the recognition he so thoroughly deserves.” Literacy Trust and the Publishers Association The National Literacy Trust is a registered to boost literacy and social mobility in the UK’s charity no. 1116260 and a company limited by poorest communities. The Literacy Project pairs guarantee no. 5836486 registered in England and the unique assets of the publishing industry with Wales and a registered charity in Scotland no. localised initiatives to raise literacy levels through SC042944. Registered address: 68 South Lambeth targeted and concentrated action. Road, London SW8 1RL.
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