by Rebecca Hannant
Hornsea environmental groups have come together to prioritise tree planting across the resort.
The trees have been planted as a collaboration with Humber Forest, Home Grown Hornsea, Hornsea Urban Gardeners (HUG), Hornsea Town Council and East Riding Council.
Humber Forest provided 100 per cent funding plus a five-year maintenance package for schemes in Hall Garth Park, where 27 trees have been planted, and Parva Road, where five rowans have been put in.
Meanwhile, in a separate project five cherry blossom trees have been planted at Station Court and King Street.
The initiative has helped local groups create greener spaces across the town while also tackling climate change, one spokeswoman said.
HUG founder June Greensmith said: “With climate change already affecting the UK, wildlife disappearing at a terrifying rate, and more of us struggling to access green space than ever before, the UK needs more trees.
“Here in Hornsea we are blessed with multiple green spaces for us all to enjoy.
“Trees are one of the best ways to tackle the climate crisis, support nature and create a healthy, happy society. To do that, we need a bold vision – to increase tree cover.
“For every tree that is cut down we must ensure a new one is planted. East Riding Council is doing this and to that end this year trees were added to Parva Road and Broadway, one of which is an English oak.
“Trees boost our physical and mental health in so many ways. As well as keeping our atmosphere rich in oxygen, they filter pollutants from the air, shade our streets when it’s hot, and even improve our immunity.
“Trees also improve our quality of life – offering relief from the symptoms of anxiety and depression. We desperately need trees, yet after centuries of damage and deforestation, just 13 per cent of our land area is forested.
“This must change, and it must change now. The UK must plant 1.5 million hectares of additional woodland by 2050 to meet its carbon- neutral target – if we miss that target, the impact could be irreversible.
Alan Tharratt of Home Grown Hornsea said: “The initial tree planting in Hall Garth Park was about six years ago, when Home Grown Hornsea and Hornsea Civic Society jointly funded the purchase of 500 trees, planted by volunteers. The area of planting has expanded to around three acres, most of the low-lying area.”
Councillor Barbara Jefferson, East Riding Council’s cabinet member for heritage and coastal, said: “We are pleased that Humber Forest worked with Hornsea Town Council to provide funding for these new trees which we hope will benefit the community and the environment for many years to come.”
