Westminster Tree Trust 40th Birthday

Over 1000 trees planted in Marylebone and Fitzrovia

In 1982, Westminster Tree Trust was founded by a small group of Westminster residents for the preservation of the natural amenities of the neighbourhood; to protect, preserve and cultivate the surrounds of the borough; and in particular to plant and cultivate trees and flora. 

And since that date, it has planted 1000s of trees in the City of Westminster: in parks, in schools, in Estates, but mainly on streets in the City. On 29 June 2022, Westminster Tree Trust celebrated its 40^th birthday by planting a Gingko Biloba tree in Blandford Street in Marylebone. The Lord Mayor of Westminster Councillor Hamza Taouzzale, assisted by Councillor Karen Scarborough and celebrity gardener Alan Titchmarsh MBE and local school children planted the splendid tree which is the 1000^th tree in the W1W Tree Planting Initiative led by Mark Gazaleh. Since 2009, over 1000 trees have been planted in the Marylebone and Fitzrovia area and we are grateful to the numerous donors, both large and small, who have supported the initiative. In particular we would like to thank The Portman Estate, Howard de Walden Estate and Ridgeford Properties for sponsoring our birthday tree.

Lord Mayor Hamza Taouzzale, Alan Titchmarsh MBE and Cllr Karen Scarborough plant the birthday tree

Planting in Wigmore Street

On 25 May 2021, to coincide with the end of lockdown and the reopening of the Wigmore Hall, we celebrated by planting a new tree on Wigmore Street. The Lord Mayor, Cllr Johnathan Glanz, John Gilhooly, Director of Wigmore Hall, and concert pianist Stephen Hough planted a tree outside the Hall, enthusiastically assisted by the eco-team of Queen College Preparatory School.

Gatliff Close

Westminster Tree Trust has been working with the residents of Gatliff Close in Pimlico to jointly fund the planting of this splendid crab apple tree (Malus magderbergensis) in the courtyard of the Close.

Kilburn Park Road

Westminster Tree Trust has been planting a run of chanticler pear trees on the south side of Kilburn Park Road as part of its programme to green N Westminster. 12 trees were planted in late 2015 with more expected to finish this particular planting scheme.

New planting schemes in Westminster

Westminster Tree Trust is working with the Council and local residents on two new planting schemes. One is in the Westmoreland Triangle part of Pimlico in the South of Westminster and continues the scheme in Gloucester Street planted at the end of last year. The other scheme is at an earlier stage and is intended to help green the part of North Westminster to the west of Maida Vale just south of the borough border with Brent. We look forward to working with local groups to develop these schemes. If you would like to know more, or to contribute, please go to the the “Support Us” tab at the top of this page which tells you how to donate or to get in touch.

Planting in Pimlico

Westminster Tree Trust has been planting trees in Gloucester Street in Pimlico. We planted 10 chanticler pear trees on the south side of Gloucester Street in late 2014 and the Council is trialling planting a similar number on the north side.  The scheme was developed with the benefit of a legacy from Mr Maxim de Soissons who lived in Pimlico and the Trust intends to hold a tree planting ceremony in the late Spring. 

In  two or three years time, we hope the Gloucester Street trees will look like these trees planted earlier round the corner in Denbigh Street. 

Edward Fox in planting ceremony for North Westminster scheme

To mark the completion of the first phase of the North Westminster scheme, actor Edward Fox planted an Ermans Birch in Harrow Road on Friday 28 March. One of thirty trees planted with assistance from the Mayor’s Street Tree initiative, Mr Fox was joined by Jamal Akay (from All Stars Boxing Gym) and children from Wilberforce School in the cemerony outside the Gym.

North Westminster Tree Planting

The Trust is now working with residents groups to develop a tree planting programme in North Westminster.

The first phase will consist of some 25 trees planted along Harrow Road from the market place to the boundary of the City with Brent and Kensington and Chelsea. We will shortly be starting to dig trial pits and if practical get the trees planted by the end of March. If you want to find out more do get in touch, or make a donation via

https://mydonate.bt.com/charities/westminstertreetrust

15 May 2013: Marylebone completes tree planting project with 600th tree and wins GLA Re:Leaf awards

As part of London Tree Week, Marylebone locals celebrated the completion of W1W project in Marylebone and Fitzrovia with the planting of the 600th tree, a very distinctive Liqud Amber tree, on Great Portland Street. The inner city project aims to reduce the impactof heavy traffic and make the streets a more pleasant environment for everyone.

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food, Mr David Heath MP, planted the tree with the help of children from All Souls and St Vincent’s primary schools.

Local contributions raised are now well in excess of £90,000 pounds with match funding from the Westminster Tree Trust, Westminster City Council and support of the Big Tree Plant campaign.

Those present included, Mark Gazaleh, who has lead the initiative, local Councillor Jonathan Glanz, Michael Bolt of the Marylebone Association and trustees of Westminster Tree Trust including Councillor Ruth Bush.

The initiative was later recognised with two Re:Leaf awards for urban tree planting at London’s City Hall.

For more information:   http://w1wtrees.wordpress.com/

Reception at the Lord Mayor’s Parlour

Yesterday the Trust held a very successful fundraising reception in the Lord Mayor’s Parlour on the 18th floor of Westminster City Hall.

The Lord Mayor, Cllr Angela Harvey, welcomed the guests and the founder chairman, Lord Forsyth of Drumlean, recalled how the Trust had been established to promote the planting of trees in Westminster. The present chairman, Peter Ruback, gave a short presentation on current activity and future plans which is shown below (click on the triangular button to start).

The Trust would like to thank the Lord Mayor for making the Parlour available  and to the local businesses and individuals who contributed prizes for the raffle.