Otis Facer, Bill Britten, Sarah Penny and Lucy Facer make space for greenery with new tree pits on Liverpool Road

A GROUP of residents in Liverpool Road have been “greening up” their neighbourhood by planting new tree pits on the road.
The group applied for council funding for the project, and received the welcome support of local councillors Heather Staff and Nurullah Turan.

“Depaving” and planting new shrubbery in tree pits brings many ecological benefits to the area, and it is one way of increasing green space in the borough. Islington is currently the second-lowest borough in the country for green space.

Over 10,000 vehicles drive down Liverpool Road each day, and the project will mean that new greenery can help to mitigate the high levels of air pollution on the street, as well as helping with water drainage to nourish tree roots.

From left: Sarah Penny, Lucy Facer, Cllr Heather Staff, Jonathan Bennett, Maia Hamilton, Bill Britten, Cllr Narullah Turan

Sarah Penny, one of the residents involved in the project, said: “‘It’s great the council has recognised the huge potential of depaving and collaborating with residents. Introducing more planting into our streets not only will make them nicer but means we can each do something about climate change.

“Hopefully this will grow and we can create a green corridor along Liverpool Road with planting that will boost insects and bees.”

“Changes to Liverpool Road since the cycle lane was introduced have made it an increasingly hostile environment for residents and pedestrians.

“Liverpool Road is a residential street comprising hundreds of households and the Liveable Neighbourhood plans need to address this by reducing traffic, sound and pollution, providing pedestrians with safe places to cross and creating more green spaces for the community.

“We’d like a plan that puts the residential nature of the street at its heart and moves away from its being just a road to carry traffic.”

Tree pit plants taking root