Last Updated on 26 September 2023
Merton joined this scheme which enables groups and individuals to sponsor a new street tree in March 2023.
The National Street Sponsorship Scheme provides the opportunity for individuals, organisations and businesses to sponsor a new street tree and choose the location for the tree. This may be outside their house if suitable or somewhere else in the neighbourhood. Those who apply to sponsor a street tree are asked to donate £195 if they agree to water the tree, or £295 if Merton’s contractor is to water it. Trees are 2.5 to 3 metres high when planted, with planting undertaken between November and March.
The scheme is welcome but given the tree distribution in the borough is stated in the Council’s Tree Strategy 2023-2029– as ‘unbalanced’ with most green coverage in the Wimbledon, Merton Park and Morden parts of the borough, it is hoped that sponsorship may be found to help planting in the Mitcham part of the borough. Details about the scheme can be found here
Some residents have also planted flowers around trees under the Merton Garden Streets project which further adds to the enhancement of the street scene and the positive effects for the environment.
