We've planted 1000 trees for The Mayflower Forest
1000 trees have been planted for The Mayflower Forest
1000 trees have now been planted on Marsh Mills Roundabout, as leading members of Plymouth’s construction industry move forward to create ‘The Mayflower Forest’ as their community engagement efforts towards a lasting legacy for Mayflower400.
With the construction of the dry river bed now completed under the flyover, the plan is well underway to deliver a new landscape vision to revitalise Marsh Mills Roundabout as a green gateway transforming the visitors’ arrival experience, as well as delivering significant environmental benefits.
The volunteering Mayflower Forest design team, co-ordinated by Building Plymouth, is being headed up by leading construction consultants at AECOM (Landscape Architecture) who are also appointed as in-kind Principal Designer, and YGS Landscapes (Landscape Contractors).
The Mayflower Forest – a new urban forest for Plymouth
Leading the planting programme, Steve Warren-Brown, Managing Director of YGS Landscapes said: “We are delighted to have planted 1000 trees – this is a combination of 200 semi mature Himalayan birch and 800 younger birch which will greatly enhance the existing birch and oak trees creating the overall effect for this exciting new urban forest.
“The younger trees’ bark will mature over the coming years therefore enhancing the already mature trees and continuing the visual impact. Our next operation will be the wildflower works. We have been working closely with wild flower consultants to create a bespoke mix to ensure longevity of the floral display. Apart from the obvious colourful visual impact, this will also enhance the biodiversity with the mix selected to enhance the existing wild flora which will be managed by YGS Landscapes for the first two years to ensure maximum impact. Already the site clearance has created a chance to let things grow which have previously been unable to thrive and we are witnessing some surprising existing flora growth.
“We have committed to manage the Forest for two years in-kind in order to maximise the impact of this whole legacy project before handing back to Plymouth City Council.”
The Mayflower Forest – an elegant, visually stimulating and environmentally sustainable gateway to our city.
Landscape designer of The Mayflower Forest Adam King, Associate Director of AECOM, said: “Our vision has been to retain the best elements of the existing green infrastructure and enhance them, developing into The Mayflower Forest as a lasting legacy for Plymouth and an elegant, visually stimulating and environmentally sustainable gateway to our city.
“Planting 1000 trees in this urban area contributes positively to the city’s climate emergency and the Plan for Trees. In addition the new trees leaves will trap particulates, ‘significantly improving air quality’ which we are also going to measure with the help of Plymouth University.”
Co-ordinating the overall Forest project, Emma Hewitt from Building Plymouth said: “We wanted to make a difference for Plymouth and leave a lasting legacy for 2020. I am overwhelmed by the level of commitment, passion and in-kind support we have received from the construction industry which has made delivering the Forest even possible. Last year we ran a successful crowdfunding campaign which has transformed our project idea into a community-invested project reaching widely across the business community and local residents. I couldn’t be prouder of what we are delivering as a team of volunteers!”
Cabinet member for Environment and Street Scene Councillor Sue Dann said: “Really pleased that the Council could support this project to make a strategic route into the city a key priority and to plant so many trees as part of the Mayflower legacy for future generations. The partnership work and support from the construction industry is amazing and it is all voluntary, a real community investment.”
Find out more about The Mayflower Forest
Frequently asked questions about the delivery of The Mayflower Forest can be found here – Frequently asked questions_TheMayflowerForest0120.pdf
To find out more about The Road to Mayflower project, including how to get involved in the project, visit here
To find out more about Plymouth’s Plan for Trees, visit here