The variety of different tree species in Staple Hill’s Page Park has increased by more than half following the planting of 33 new trees, plus a new management plan will ensure that all of the trees in the open space are maintained and protected.
The new tree varieties include mulberry, Tibetan cherry, dawn redwood and dove tree, and these new additions have increased the variety of trees in the Staple Hill park by 58 per cent. These new trees have been introduced to enhance the natural environment and encourage more people to visit the council-owned park.
In addition, a new tree management plan for the park was officially launched on Monday (20 March). The plan outlines how we will manage and maintain the variety of different trees in Page Park, including several iconic formal avenues of lime, pine and horse chestnuts, to ensure the character of this beautiful Edwardian park is protected for future generations.
Cllr Erica Williams, Chair of South Gloucestershire Council, said: “I warmly welcome the planting of these new trees and the publication of the first tree management plan for Page Park. It is wonderful to see these new trees being planted and I look forward to watching them grow and flourish.”
Jon Clark, executive director of the Forest of Avon Trust, said: “Trees have a huge number of benefits and we need many more of them. They offer great health and wellbeing benefits in urban areas and if you plant more trees in a park people are more likely to visit and stay longer. Trees have a very positive impact on people’s lives and contribute to their quality of life.”
Lorna Carter-Stevens, Chair of the Friends of Page Park, said: “As well as adding autumn colour and interest to Page Park, the new variety of trees will educate children and adults about different species and their benefits. They will secure the future of Page Park as an oasis of greenery in an otherwise urban area.”
The tree management plan is part of a wider £2.2 million regeneration project which includes a £1.6 million Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Parks for People Programme grant, which funded the tree management plan. The 33 new trees have been planted in Page Park thanks to a grant of £6,800 from the Forest of Avon Trust and £2,500 from the Friends of Page Park through the People’s Postcode Lottery.
The Parks for People Programme grant is also funding a number of additional improvements to the park which are progressing well – refurbishment of the clock tower and the café build are both underway and both should be completed by the summer. As well as the new trees, 25,000 bulbs and 2,400 plants have been planted in the park over the winter as part of the project.
In addition, a programme of activities and events for Page Park is underway including Walking for Health walks, Couch to 5K, and a junior parkrun scheduled to launch this summer. Other events in 2017 include the Big Lunch, Bark in the Park, Pumpkin Patch and Carols in the Clock Tower.
Future plans include creating interpretation panels plus an oral history project will collect people’s memories of the park. There will also be restoration of walls, gates, railings and other heritage features in the park as well as resurfacing of paths around the park and additional planting.
For more information visit www.southglos.gov.uk/parks
