A tree-mendous new ‘green lung’ pathway has opened up in a Mapperley park.
More than 500 trees have now been planted to enhance the new trail which runs through Digby Park.
Yesterday (30) children from Carlton Digby School planted trees and native daffodils at the park to mark the opening of the new trail.
The green lung trail is being opened to coincide with National Tree Week, an annual celebration where the country’s conservation sector, volunteer groups and tree-lovers come together to plant thousands of trees to mark the start of the annual tree planting season.
More than 500 trees have been planted at the trail so far, including native trees and ornamental trees such as Pride of India, Tibetan Cherry and Large Leaf Lime, which can grow up to 100 feet.
The trail is lined with saplings of more than 30 different tree species and can be used by pedestrians and cyclists. When fully grown many of the trees will reach heights between 60 and 100 foot and become part of an area called the “Green Lung”. The park will also be receiving new benches, bins and improved drainage to make it easier to access.
Each tree along the trail is marked with a plaque featuring a QR code, which when scanned, takes the user to a webpage with detailed information about that species of tree.
The trail leads from the entrance at Digby Avenue, Mapperley all the way to Arnold Lane and back. Plans are also being made for access improvements from Digby Park to Gedling Country Park once the nearby housing development is finished.
At the opening was Councillor Jenny Hollingsworth, Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Growth and Economy at Gedling Borough Council.
She said: “The planting is part of our commitment to people enjoying the outdoors; our commitment to the environment and reducing our carbon footprint.
“We pledged to plant 500 trees and we exceeded that within the first 12 months. Clearly we want more trees and this is the start of the tree trail which will eventually run right the way through to Gedling Country Park once the development is completed on Chase Farm. It will be a beautiful walk-through encouraging people to get out, we’ve called it the green lung for a purpose in a built up area so people can enjoy the outdoors and walk all the way through from Digby Park and right the way through to Gedling Country Park eventually.”
Janet Spratt-Burch, Head Teacher at Carlton Digby School said: “Our pupils use the park on a regular basis as part of their learning, and it will be positive for them to see the growth of ‘our tree’ and notice the seasonal changes, as the daffodils come through in the spring.”
Rachel Eyre, teacher from Carlton Digby School said: “We use Digby Park to come out for forest views and outside school activities all year round. Its really nice to see the park change throughout the seasons and we’re delighted to have been invited to join in with the planting of the new tree trail and over the next few weeks months years we look forward to seeing it blossom’
Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke MBE said: “We’re really pleased to be opening this new trail at Digby Park as part of National Tree Week, and it’s great to be joined by local school children. Seeing these young children who are so passionate about their environment is truly inspirational.
“We made a commitment to plant 500 trees each year and this year alone we’ve planted more than 2,000.
“Thanks to this new trail, more residents will be able to enjoy the environmental and health and wellbeing benefits that areas like this bring.”
