The Mayor of London has announced 40,000 new trees will be planted across the capital, including 15,000 in Redbridge.

Sadiq Khan’s new £1.5 million woodland fund will contribute to the scheme which will see a mass tree planting weekend in December this year.

The trees are on their way to parks, playgrounds, estates, schools and community spaces across London as part of the Mayor’s ambition to make London a National Park City.

Projects in 21 London boroughs are being funded by the Community Tree Planting Grants as part of the Mayor’s Greener City Fund.

Sadiq Khan wants to maintain and expand the capital’s ‘urban forest’ of eight million trees which can store carbon, improve air quality, and create habitat for wildlife.

The Mayor has said he is committed to protecting and improving the green belt and increasing the current proportion of London’s land area under tree canopy by 10 per cent by 2050.

Redbridge residents can get involved in the large tree planting event at Forest Road Recreation Ground on December 1 and December 2.

As part of the weekend of tree planting, the Mayor will also make free tree packs available for residents, community groups and schools to plant their own trees at home, at schools and in local green spaces.

Mr Khan said: “Our much-loved green spaces boost our environment and enhance our quality of life and I’m committed to planting thousands of new trees. City Hall want our new woodland funding to help improve our Green Belt and I’ve written to all London boroughs asking them to nominate suitable sites.

“We are also delivering 40,000 new trees to brighten a range of local parks, buildings and green spaces. As we move towards making London the world’s first National Park City I’d encourage everyone to get involved in helping make our city greener and to take part in the mass tree planting this December.”

To register for the mass planting event and find out more, visit https://www.london.gov.uk/grow.