Ridgeford Properties Helps Bring Back Elm Trees to London's Bolsover Street

LONDON, April 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Elm trees returned to Bolsover Street, London, W1, on Friday 1st April, for the first time in 150 years, as television presenter, Alan Titchmarsh, MBE, planted a tree to mark the arrival of 48 new trees to the street.

The planting celebrated the latest street in the east Marylebone area to be given the 'green treatment' as part of the W1W Tree Planting Initiative.

With the help of local primary school children from All Soul's Primary, Alan Titchmarsh planted the tree with help from the Lord Mayor of Westminster, who unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark the occasion.

The ceremony, attended by residents and businesses from the local community, celebrated the planting of 46 birch trees as well as the return of two elm trees to Bolsover Street, which have not been seen on the street since 1850 and are currently being reintroduced across London.

With the financial support of local businesses including Ridgeford Properties and the Manhattan Loft Corporation, elm trees can now be found outside the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital's state-of-the-art diagnosis centre, which was developed as part of a joint venture by both companies.

The W1W Tree Planting Initiative, made up of local residents and local businesses, has been working alongside the Westminster Tree Trust and Westminster City Council to bring more trees to the area.

Following the planting, Chris Murray, Managing Director of Ridgeford Properties said:

"With cuts to local government funding, it is more important than ever that local businesses, like Ridgeford Properties, work with local residents to support the community and improve the surrounding area. The W1W tree planting initiative is a great example of how local businesses and residents can work together.

"The trees benefit everyone that lives and works here and make the street a more attractive place for visitors to explore."

The latest stage of the W1W project, which began in 2008, follows the planting of 53 pear trees in neighbouring Weymouth Street in November last year. The scheme will have planted 250 trees in the East Marylebone area by the end of spring 2011.