New Trees Boost Activity in Parks

The planting of 14 new extra heavy standard trees in King George V Playing Fields at Sutton Manor in St Helens has seen visitor numbers increase.The trees Common Limes have been chosen because they will grow to a large size offering shade and colour across the park.

The installation of the trees alongside children's play equipment and a teen shelter has boosted numbers considerably.By linking green spaces through green route ways such as Sutton Manor with its iconic Dream Sculpture and Brickfields with its views across the brickworks to the soiled up and soon to be greened landfill site this extends the possibility of walking and cycling across the Bold Parish area for residents of Four Acre, Sutton and further afield in St Helens and Merseyside.

Ben Greenaway Green Streets Coordinator for The Mersey Forest who organised the planting said

'by planting large leaved large stature trees we can contribute to making the long walk across the park seem like a short distance by providing a greater sense of scale to the wide open landscape.As well as providing much needed colour to the park the trees will cool the air on hot days and provide welcome shade for older residents who can see long distances without a break a daunting prospect'.

Large leaved trees are best when helping us adapt to climate change by cooling and shading.Research at Manchester University has recently shown that trees planted in grassed areas have a dramatic cooling effect on their surrounding but even better news is that trees in paved areas can cool by up to 5 degrees celcius making our living environment more relaxing on hot days.