New Street Trees for Whitstable
Whitstable has gained 14 new street trees thanks to a collaboration between the Whitstable Society, Whitstable Improvement Trust, Kentish Stour Countryside Partnership, and Kent County Council.
A team of Kentish Stour Countryside Partnership’s volunteers planted the trees in the verge along Valkyrie Avenue by the. They include cherry, lime and maple.
The project called ‘Whitreeble’ is an attempt to get more trees into Whitstable, and provide increased environmental value. Now, no street trees are now being planted in Kent unless through a development, in conservation areas or through community initiatives such as this one, due to a lack of funds from Kent County Council.
The planting of street trees involves many issues, not least of which are their costs ( eg £250 per tree to plant into a verge and £500 to plant through tarmac).
The Valkyrie Avenue trees and their planting have been paid for with grants from Tesco’s Bags of Help and Whitstable Area Members Panel and with donations from local residents. The trees now belong to KCC Highways who will maintain the trees into the future.
If you would like to donate to the ‘Whitreeble’ initiative please contact the Whitstable Improvement Trust, 34 Harbour Street, Whitstable CT5 1AJ.