CPRE Sussex leads green revolution in Brighton and Hove

CPRE Sussex is organising tree planting events across Brighton and Hove from now until the end of March.

The widespread programme is part of Trees for Cities’ Forgotten Places project, aiming to provide green jobs and boost nature recovery.

Planting is already underway in Woodingdean and Bevendean, with upcoming events in Portslade and on the Bristol Estate.

Penny Hudd from CPRE Sussex said: “We are thrilled Brighton and Hove was one of seven cities chosen to take part in Forgotten Places. Trees are hugely important, not just for the environment but for the health and wellbeing of our city’s residents. We have been working closely with communities to ensure trees are planted in the right places and have every chance of living long, healthy lives.”

In 2021, CPRE Sussex’s Plant your Postcode volunteers, supported by Brighton & Hove City Council’s Arboriculture team and Hove Civic Society, made a successful bid to take part in Forgotten Places.

In total, the project, run by Trees for Cities, will see £1.2m of funding to plant 55,000 trees across seven coastal towns and cities.

The funding was developed by Defra as part of the Government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund. It is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England, the Environment Agency and Forestry Commission.

Trees for Cities is working with the Field Studies Council, Treeconomics, Forest Research and local partners to deliver this project. The project is also part of The Queen’s Green Canopy, and local residents will get the chance to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 by inviting people to ‘Plant a Tree for the Jubilee’. 

To find out more about getting involved with community planting events taking place near you  email jenni.cresswell@cpresussex.org.uk.

Forgotten Places is one of several CPRE Sussex-led initiatives to improve the environment across the county. Find out how you could get involved at cpresussex.org.uk/get-involved. 

Find out about the organisations involved in the Forgotten Places project:

About CPRE Sussex

CPRE Sussex is the local branch of CPRE, working for a countryside that’s rich in nature, accessible to everyone and responding to the climate emergency. We want sustainable, vibrant communities in the Sussex countryside. We believe that good land-use planning is the unsung hero of environmental protection. It can help slow the growth in road traffic, encourage urban regeneration, curb urban sprawl, protect the beauty and tranquillity of the countryside and safeguard wildlife habitats. 

About Defra – Green Recovery Challenge Fund

The Green Recovery Challenge Fund is supported using public funds and delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency. This project is funded by the Government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund. The fund was developed by Defra and its Arm’s-Length Bodies. It is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England, the Environment Agency and Forestry Commission.

About Trees for Cities

Trees for Cities is the only UK charity working at a national and international scale to improve lives by planting trees in cities. We get stuck in with local communities to cultivate lasting change in their neighbourhoods – whether it’s revitalising forgotten spaces, creating healthier environments or getting people excited about growing, foraging and eating healthy food.

About the Field Studies Council

Field Studies Council (FSC) is an environmental education charity committed to helping people, discover, explore, understand and be inspired by the natural world. Its network of centres provides day and residential courses for all ages from young children to retired adults from schools and communities throughout the UK. They also run a range of natural history courses both online and across the UK to encourage adults to take their first steps and continue their learning in the environmental sector. It also reaches many others through its publications and community-based programmes and is the leading UK provider of identification guides.

About Treeconomics 

Treeconomics works to understand how trees improve our urban spaces, making them better places to live. We aim to demonstrate that trees are part of the solution for many of our urban problems – be that air pollution, climate adaptation, crime, or manifold others. With towns and cities housing the largest populations of people, our Urban Forests hold the greatest potential to improve health and wellbeing, and stand at the frontline against Climate Change.

About Forest Research

Forest Research is Great Britain’s principal organisation for forestry and tree-related research and is internationally renowned for the provision of evidence and scientific services in support of sustainable forestry.

About The Queen’s Green Canopy

The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) is a unique tree planting campaign across the United Kingdom to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022. All across the UK, people will be encouraged to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee” through the QGC initiative. Led by an Executive Team and supported by charity Cool Earth and the UK Government, the project will see all counties of the UK being invited to create a network of individual or specimen trees, tree avenues, copses and woodlands in honour of The Queen’s 70 years of service to the Nation. As well as inviting the planting of new trees, The Queen’s Green Canopy will dedicate a network of 70 Ancient Woodlands across the United Kingdom and identify 70 Ancient Trees to celebrate Her Majesty’s 70 years of service.