‘URBAN FOREST’ TREES, PONDS
FOR BRIXTON

Brixton is to get new trees and ponds as part of ambitious plans by Lambeth council to make the borough greener.

Ponds near Effra Road and new tree planting on Rush Common off Brixton Hill are among initiatives to make the borough greener and more resilient in the face of worsening climate change.

Announcing the launch of an “urban forest” policy for the borough at an event on Rush Common in Brixton, Rezina Chowdhury (inset) deputy leader of the council (sustainable Lambeth and clean air), said the strategy behind it is a “significant milestone” in efforts to build a borough with social and climate justice at its heart and neighbourhoods fit for the future.

Trees can reduce both outdoor and indoor pollution by “an incredible 50%,” she said.

“With urban communities such as ours disproportionately affected by pollution-related sickness and deaths, incorporating more trees and woods into urban areas is absolutely crucial.”

The urban forest strategy would focus on areas that do not already have a lot of trees and which are more at risk of negative effects of climate drought, said Cllr Chowdhury.

These would be areas that have more concrete, which absorbs heat in the summer, so heating the local environment, and they would also be areas with less grass and soil for water to soak into, making them more at risk of flooding.

The policy will take into account the risk of trees combining with the borough’s base of London clay, which can expand and contract creating subsidence, by planting smaller trees and ones with a low uptake of water in problem areas.

“We’ll be planting in estates, schools, health centres, hostels and care homes, ensuring that we protect our most vulnerable residents from extreme heat,” said Cllr Chowdhury.

After planting, contractors are going to water the new trees each week during the summer for three years. The council is also launching a “tree champion” programme to engage enthusiastic residents.

The launch event on Rush Common was a joint venture between the council and the St Matthews Estate Tenants and Residents Association.

Tree “canopy cover” in Lambeth varies between 24% in leafy West Dulwich to just 11% in Brixton’s Acre Lane.

Despite its rural-sounding name, Rush Common in Brixton has only 14% cover, as does Windrush ward. Brixton North has 15%.

The borough actually lost 141 trees in the five years to 2020. The urban forest strategy, which runs until 2030, has plans for 5,000 new trees as well as protection of existing ones.

It aims to increase Lambeth’s current whole-borough average canopy cover of 17% to 20%.

Plans for new ponds next to Effra Road – also on the St Matthews estate – are intended to “alleviate flood risk, boost biodiversity and support peoples’ health and wellbeing”.

In two landscaped green areas with pathways and play areas, the ponds will be designed to temporarily collect water during heavy rain – easing the burden on the drainage network and reducing the risk of flash floods.

The council is working with Thames Water on a £6m programme of sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS) so the stormwater network does not become overwhelmed and cause surface flooding.

More than 30 schemes have been earmarked for sites in the borough over the next three years.

Cllr Chowdhury asked people living in or near the St Matthews Estate to take the council’s online survey (scan code) to, “share their thoughts on our proposals and help us come up with a sustainable solution that will benefit everyone.”