Former golf course’s Royal trees tribute
A former golf course on Wearside is to be transformed rootand-branch, as local residents and schools join forces to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee.”
Students from up to eight schools will be helping plant 420 trees at the former Elemore course, new Easington Lane – which have been donated by the Woodland Trust as part of the ‘Queen’s Green Canopy’ initiative.
The Green Canopy encourages the planting of trees to create a legacy in honour of the Queen’s platinum jubilee next year.
Participating in the project to plant trees at Elemore are students from Hetton Primary, Hetton Lyons Primary, Easington Lane Primary, East Rainton Primary, Hetton Secondary, Houghton Kepier Secondary, Hetton Lyons Nursery and Houghton Community Nursery.
Cllr Claire Rowntree, deputy leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “Seeing so many schools and community groups rally together to take part in this project has been fantastic and we’re delighted with how receptive both the young people and our local residents have been to the campaign.”
“The redevelopment of the former Elemore golf course is set to be transformed into a full eco-park over the next 12 months, comprising a communityled café, garden and visitor centre that will become a real asset to the local area and this will play a key role in ensuring the project realises its full potential.”
The tree planting is one of the first projects to come to fruition as part of the region’s participation in the newly formed North East Community Forest project.
More woodland and hedge planting will follow as part of the transformation of the former Elemore site, supported by Sunderland City Council, with over 15,000 trees being planted in total.
Cllr Rowntree added: “The city council made a commitment last year to make Sunderland a carbonneutral city by 2040 and initiatives like this will play a major part in helping us achieve our ambitions.
“It’s been great working with the local schools, community groups and the team at NECF on this project and we’re looking forward to working on more climatefriendly initiatives across the city as we look to the future.”