Community Planting Streets Pilot

Once we've reviewed nominations and chosen initial trial streets for this project we'll work together on co-designing the planting, giving you advice on what plants would work. 

We'll mostly recommend planting simple plants such as bulbs or wildflowers as these are least likely to impact the tree.

We can’t allow planting closer than 30cm from the trunk of a tree as this would compromise the tree roots. As a rough measure, tree pits need to be bigger than one paving slab.

We can consider expanding tree pits, but with limited funds at the moment we will need to list most tree pit expansions on our project bank for future funding. Please do put your nominations in though so we can record these and look out for funding opportunities.

You will need to follow some basic safety measures while planting, which are particularly important when working near roads. You will also need to agree and sign up to the terms and conditions, the Risk Assessment and safety guidelines and take full responsibility when working in public spaces.

We will conduct ground surveys to check that there aren’t any utilities such as water or power that would cause danger to you or be impacted by planting. You will receive advice on planting depths and distances to keep you and the tree safe.

We’ll review nominations after the initial deadline and choose the first pilot streets. We’ll then:

• Contact residents who have nominated the pilot streets (remember to leave your contact details at the end of this survey to ensure we can get back to you)

• Agree a lead community contact

• Agree terms and conditions

• Scope out planting locations on each pilot street with residents

• Co-design plans for what to plant where

We'll continue to take nominations after the pilot deadline. If the pilot is successful, we'll review other streets that have been nominated and choose more to go forward when the funding and capacity are available.

We ask that all individuals and groups who wish to be part of a Community Planting Streets project sign up to the terms and conditions below. A risk assessment and health and safety checklist will be provided when we first make contact with residents.

Key terms:

1. Read, sign and adhere to the activity risk assessment

2. Share, sign and adhere to the health and safety checklist

3. Maintain the spaces that you plant for a minimum of 12 months (and confirm whether or not you will be renewing at the end of a year) 

• You must not work from the road under any circumstances as you will not only be putting yourself at risk but also motorists who might need to take evasive action to avoid hitting you. So, you must be aware of other users of the street – we don’t want pedestrians (particularly the elderly or those with impaired vision) tripping over any tools or equipment left lying on the ground.

• Do not install any structures, such as a wooden border, or raise the soil level above the level of the footpath as this will create a footway trip that could cause an accident.

• Only the use of hand tools is permitted for planting purposes. The use of scythes, machetes and similar single bladed tools are not permitted.

• Gloves should be worn and please be aware that there may be broken glass and other litter.

• Weeds, cuttings and any other plant material cannot be left in the highway and needs to be disposed of

• You can litter pick and keep the tree pit and footpath outside your home clear of rubbish

• You may not dig in the tree pit with a spade or otherwise disturb the tree roots

• You may lightly turn the surface of the soil around the tree to plant wildflower seeds

• You may use a trowel to plant small plants, you will be given a list of advised bulbs / plants to ensure best results and minimum impact to the tree.

•  You must not plant shrubs that will compete with a young tree for water and space. 

• You may not use any pesticides

• If plants droop into the road or over the footpath, these should be cut back so that they don’t cause an obstruction.

• At the end of the growing season (and when sown plants have died), please cut and remove dead plants ready for the next season

• Young trees need a lot of water in dry periods. Please do help us to water trees that have a support stake during the spring and summer months. 2 litres of water a day will help the tree to establish. Older trees draw water from roots some distance from the trunk so planting next to established trees won’t affect them.