Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Releafing Redbridge











This morning I was with Boris, planting trees in the Roding Valley. We were welcomed by the Mayor of Redbridge, deputy leader Cllr Ian Bond (lib dem), and around a hundred volunteers as well as assorted journalists.








RE:LEAF London is the Mayor's new campaign which aims to encourage businesses and individuals to plant more trees across the capital, 'bringing the village to the city', as Boris puts it. This week 10,000 new trees are being planted in East London, many by volunteers from News International.








Experts from Trees For Cities made sure we were safely kitted out with gloves - wouldn't want to get a splinter or a nasty prick - before issuing spades and demonstrating how to plant a sapling. For apartment dwellers like myself this was a new experience but Boris went for it like an experienced pro.








I paused for breath to be photographed with local Conservative councillors Paul Canal and Robin Turbefield, behind the Trees for Cities banner.








The new trees will greatly enhance this part of the borough and will help to soak up ground water in an area that suffered badly from flooding just a few years ago.

4 comments:

Mrs Angry said...

Did the folk from News International make you take your Soviet era hat off? I'm beginning to wonder if you might not be a double agent, Comrade Evans: Chairman Mao said 'let a thousand flowers bloom', and here you are encouraging the workers in their agricultural efforts, bold as anything in your Communist headgear, tut tut.

weggis said...

sorry couldn't be with you and your hat.
New grand daughter arrived today. In Queens where there were no beds in Maternity.....

Roger Evans said...

Weggis, congratulations on your new arrival! A Capricorn, like my sister, I believe...

The hat is actually Persian, and I suspect it's going to become quite familiar.

Mrs Angry said...

I have to say it rather suits you, darling: and you look so much smarter than that old scruff in the anorak ...