A site in Hoo is benefiting from the planting of 3,500 of trees over the next couple of weeks in an area of green space at Deangate. The project is part of the Kent and Medway Plan Tree initiative to extend tree cover in the county by 1.5million trees and is funded by the Local Authority Treescape Fund.
Thousands of trees, of different species, will be planted on the site thanks to volunteers from the community and a number of organisations, including representatives from Brompton Barracks.
The planting project supports Medway Council’s climate change agenda and Tree Policy, and is one of many projects planned to tackle the issue and help improve access to green spaces. It will also increase Medway’s tree canopy and support biodiversity.
Cllr Simon Curry, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Strategic Regeneration, said:
“The planting project at Deangate is a real community effort. Thank you to everyone who is involved, from the organisations making the project possible to the volunteers giving up their time to help transform this space into an area which can be further enjoyed by wildlife and walkers.
“The tree planting will not only enhance the look of this space, but it will support local biodiversity too. It is also one of many projects planned to support our climate change agenda.”
Major Kezia Jukes, of the Royal Engineers at Brompton Barracks, said:
“Through links established at the Medway Council Community Climate Working Group, we were able to bring a group together from across Brompton Barracks to support the tree planting initiative; this included soldiers, civil servants, and contractors. The day was a fantastic example of teamwork and we all pulled together to get as many trees planted as possible – with a little bit of military competitiveness coming out! It is hoped that this is the first event of many working closely with Medway Council to support climate initiatives.”
The site is set to become the new Deangate Community Parkland, funded through Section 106 payments, helping to protect our wildlife and giving further access to residents, supporting people’s wellbeing.
The proposals for Deangate include:
- creating a substantial public open space of at least 43 hectares
- increasing public knowledge on the importance of the nightingale population
- celebrating nature through nurturing existing habitats and creating new ones
- providing visitor facilities including picnic spaces
- creating a network of safe and attractive routes for dog walkers, walkers and cyclists.
More updates on the project to transform the land into a public parkland will be released when plans are finalised.
Cllr Curry added:
“Over time the site, which is already enjoyed by local walkers, will be further transformed into a beautiful public space. I am looking forward to seeing the parkland thriving with wildlife and being enjoyed by many more residents.”