Well its with a heavy heart we write our final blog as the BTfL project ends in its current form. But we accept that change comes like the seasons and like the seasons changing we bloom, blossom and grow. We believe that through our 16-year history BTfL has bloomed and blossomed and will continue to do so as http://birminghamtreepeople.org.uk/ take on the BTfL project. BTP are fantastic custodians of the BTfL project and as well as continuing community tree planting BTP are leading the way in achieving Birmingham becoming an urban forest and leading the way in greening up the second city ..read more

Well we have been looking forward to this moment for weeks, months, even years! But 16-years-ago when BTfL planted its first tree who could’ve ever imagined that the small project working just five months a year every two weeks and only in term time could achieve so much, plant so many trees, work with over 7000 children  6800 adult volunteers at 325 tree plantings in so many parks and open green spaces across the city of Birmingham – well BTFL did of course! As the years passed by and one milestone of 50,0000, passed and then another and another we were always working to that magic numbe ..read more

For 16-years we have planted trees and that’s 16 Friends and Family tree planting events, traditionally the last event of our season – and today’s Friends and Family planting event couldnt be more poignant! Not only does it bring us to a total of 99995 trees in the ground, but 99995  very special memories for each and every person that has ever joined us at a BTfL tree planting event and that is nearly 14,000. But it brings us to the end of another tree planting season where, common ground, a great cause, commitment and community is always the key to our success. Today 68 people joined us ..read more

Well, there were mixed feelings for the tree planting at Kings Heath Park today. It was a our last planting of the season with a school and my what a school! Planting 700 trees today means we are at a total of 98495  so far with two more plantings to go until we reach the magic 100,000!  The amazing ladies from the South Birmingham Ahmadiyya Muslim Women’s Group joined us and smashed their own target of planting 2000 trees for their centernary celebrations, well done! Local Councillor Mike Leddy joined us and was quick to grab a spade and some trees and dig deep. Last, but certainly ..read more

Today we planted 1500 native British trees at Batchelors Farm Park, next to the River Cole, with volunteers from Dawat-e-Islami, 26 children from Alston Primary School, five teaching staff, six home schooled children, Councillor Waseem Zaffar is the Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Birmingham City Council, Deputy Lieutenant to the Queen Heidi Doughty along with her husband Jim  as well as the BTfL team. A large team for a large job. Our wonderful volunteers from Dawat-e-Islami, plant trees across continents and have 70 groups spread across the globe and the charity has rece ..read more

Phew! That’s a big number and growing bigger by the day. And today was a beauiful day, with the sun shining and happy crowd of 30-students from King Edward IV Northfield School for Girls years seven and eight, two teachers, four amazing volunteers from HSBC, great supporters of BTfL, local Councillor, Debbie Clancy, a local resident Rex, Chief Ranger Steve Hinton. Well if that’s not a crowd to be reckoned with, well we dont know what is. It was such a lovely day the students and teachers  chose to walk to the site at Cofton Park 10,000 steps, they all eagerly told us. It was a good start ..read more

At BTfL planting trees is our life’s work and we enjoy every single minute of it. The events are always exciting, it’s always joyful work, a great place to connect, laugh together, dig deep together and enjoy and celebrate everyone that joins us – today was no exception. As great mornings go, well celebrated Birmingham becoming a Queens Green Canopy City with a ceremonial tree planting with the Birmingham Lord Mayor’s Deputy, Cllr Mike Sharpe, Cllr John O’Shea, Hayley Caruthers who is a Team England Athlete competing in the Common Wealth Games Marathon event. A beautiful QGC plaque w ..read more

Well today we planted 500 whips at Dawberry Fields Park with local school Woodthorpe Junior And Infant School. 13 pupils  from years one to five who were all wearing an impressive and colourful array of boots and wellies came with kindness as their cause. We also welcomed  the Green Team back into the BTfL fold. And 12 wonderful volunteers from the Green team at  Deutsche Bank came to help us plant the trees. We hadn’t seen them for two years and it was lovely to re-connect, enjoy the beautiful sunshine together and green up the local area. Quite a special year for both of us, a ..read more

Well it was a full house today! We had 750 trees to plant at Highfield Farm Rec and we had 13 eco warriors from Quinton Church Primary School, four lovely teachers, 12 volunteers from, Ian Williamson and Midland Heart , as well as a team of 15 from Birmingham’s Homeless and Modern Day Slavery Trafficking Services, local councillor Kate Booth and Deputy  Lieutenant to the Queen, Dame Christine Braddock. The only question was did we have enough spades? Why of course we did, BTfL never fails to help anyone wanting to plant a tree to grab a spade and just start digging – it’s part of our DNA ..read more

Well it was muddy, rainy, it was cold to the bone, but as seasoned tree lovers and tree huggers BTfL were happy to be out in the great outdoors planting trees – lucky for us so was Forestdale Primary School. What greeted us at Hollymoor Park, Rubery was a long line of 22 smiley faces from year one to six, two home schooling pupils, our wonderful corporate volunteer, Jennine from Adecco Group UK & Ireland and Penny from Hollymoor Park Friends group. The teacher from Forestdale Primary Forest school told us just how excited the children had been at the thought of planting trees with us. And ..read more