Leeds residents encouraged to play their part in tree-mendous city-wide tree planting project

In a bid to tackle the climate emergency, people of all ages are being asked to get involved with the ‘Seed Collection 2022’ programme which is running throughout autumn for the third year.

There will be 13 collection points across the city and residents who want to get involved will be asked to collect four tree seed species, which are acorns, beech nuts, chestnuts and conkers.  The tree seeds will then be taken to the council’s designated specialist plant nursery and garden centre the ‘Arium’, where they are sown and grown to be planted back into Leeds parks and green spaces.

The Woodland Creation initiative, which is managed by the council’s parks service, will manage the planting of new woodlands in a bid to capture carbon, increasing biodiversity by creating habitats for birds, animals and insects. The new woodlands will also enhance green spaces creating accessible woodlands for community use by helping to improve health, wellbeing and understanding of climate change.

More information on the program can be found on the Arium website at: https://www.theariumleeds.co.uk/

Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for public health and active lifestyles, said:

“The last three years of the seed collection programme have been a huge success with residents of all ages getting involved. This work has made a great contribution towards our ambition of planting 5.8million trees over the next 25 years in our parks and green spaces and while we still have a long way to go, we are thankful to people for getting involved.

“By collecting seeds you are helping create new habitats for birds and plants and creating more green spaces which will ultimately improve the health and wellbeing of residents across Leeds.

“The annual seed collection is a great initiative for families and residents to get involved with that’s having a real positive contribution towards our carbon neutral status which we aim to achieve by 2030.  These new green spaces are so important in capturing carbon, improving air quality and increasing biodiversity.”

You can collect acorns, beech nuts, sweet chestnuts and conkers and place in the boxes at locations below. They will be collected and taken to the Arium, where they will be sown. For more information please see the Arum website listed above or the Leeds City Council website at: https://www.leeds.gov.uk/

Locations:

1 Temple Newsam Café

2 Gotts Manor Golf Club

3 The Arium

4 Three Cottages Café, Meanwood Park

5 Farnley Hall Park

6 Middleton Park Visitor Centre

7 Golden Acre Park Café

8 Tropical World gift shop

9 Kirkstall Abbey gift shop

10 White House Café Outdoor Seating, Otley Chevin

11 TCV Hollybush Kirkstall.

12 Wetherby Town Hall.

13 Lotherton Hall