Thousands more trees planted across Sunderland

Last March 424 heavy standard trees were planted around the city using grant funding Sunderland City Council received from the Government's Urban Tree Challenge Fund, in partnership with the charity Trees for Cities.

As part of the project, 2,000 smaller trees known as whips were also scheduled to be planted but this had to be postponed due to the first national lockdown last spring.

Trees for Cities have now offered Sunderland City Council a grant to plant the remaining 2,000 trees with the Government's Tree Challenge Fund and the planting is underway in Barnes Park extension, between Grindon and Thorney Close.

Trees in cities and towns have been scientifically shown to bring many benefits such as helping to filter pollutants and improving air quality.

Sunderland City Council's Cabinet Member for Dynamic City, Councillor Rebecca Atkinson, said: "I am delighted to see this project completed after it was postponed early last year.

"There are already an estimated 13,000 street trees in Sunderland and we know that these trees bring many benefits; from providing better air quality and improving the look and feel of our neighbourhoods, to helping us achieve our goal of becoming a carbon neutral city."

Last year, mature trees were planted across Ryhope, Fencehouses, Fulwell, Hendon, Hylton Lane Estate, Plains Farm, Southwick, Backhouse Park, Barnes Park Extension and Thompson Park.

Species planted throughout Sunderland include Alder, Aspen, Oak, Bird Cherry, Rowan, Sycamore, Lime and Whitebeam. 

The planting is in line with the council's emerging plan for making Sunderland more dynamic, healthy and vibrant.