We are currently in our second year of working in Sparkhill, for which Friends of Sparkhill have been a major partner to the work throughout.
We launched the work through a community meeting, to spend time to collectively deciding on what the agenda for the planting work should be.
The focus for the work, consolidated through public vote, was: improving air quality along the Stratford Road, addressing localised flooding, a commitment to beauty and high quality planting and trees, as well as supporting children to play a major role in shaping and delivering the work.
We then set about developing delivery partners for the work, which included Narthex, St Johns Church, Arden Primary School, Springfield Academy, Greet Primary, Indestructible Paint and more. We planted 29 trees across the area, along polluted roads, next to flooding hotspots, in an under-invested in local park, and importantly, in locations where the children we worked with felt they should go.
The post-planting tree care programme has blended together practical upkeep, such as watering and weeding, with creative events and lots of celebration, including sign-making, improv workshops, community picnics, and sports days - all among the trees. Much of these ideas have been led by the young people we have been working with and are rooted in social action projects focused on fostering greater cultures of neighbourhood tree care.