Peppard Conservatives have been out supporting tree planting in Peppard ward. Local residents worked in partnership with Reading Borough Council over many weeks to purchase and plant more than 30 new trees in Brooklyn Drive, Courtney Drive and Burnham Rise in Emmer Green at the end of November and early December. Under the Council’s Tree Strategy, which was brought to Council in June 2010 by Cllr Willis, the Council funded the tree root barriers and planting expertise, and local residents paid for the trees and agreed to undertake the ongoing task of watering.
Ward Councillors Jane Stanford-Beale and Richard Willis joined local residents to help with the digging of the holes to plant the trees and install the supports which will protect the young trees from being broken or blown over.
Cllr Jane Stanford-Beale said, “This is a fantastic example of local residents working with the Council to make limited resources stretch further. Local people have come together to ensure that their streets remain beautiful tree-lined roads for decades to come and I was delighted to turn out to help them plant the trees.”
Cllr Richard Willis said, “I am continuing to lobby the Council to protect the tree planting budget for another year. Trees make our environment look better and help to absorb carbon in the atmosphere. I am delighted that local people in partnership with the Council have managed to plant so many new trees in Peppard ward and I was keen to attend to help and show my support for this initiative.”
There are plans for more planting in the area, with one signature tree to be funded by the Emmer Green Residents’ Association.