Our strategy for this pocket of green space on Stoney Lane grew from a pop-up consultation alongside our wonderful partners, Friends of Sparkhill Park, ensuring our plan for the space was considered and worked well for the local landscape

Wanting to care for open green spaces and make them more accessible, we learnt this was a precious green space for locals with young children for whom the park was a little too far away. We were also mindful of the desire path running through the middle of the park. These are the paths that are etched into the ground over time, formed by continuous walking over the same small trail.

Altogether, we got six trees into the ground, a mix of Sweetgum and Hornbeam. The Sweetgums were selected for their love for wet ground, helping to address occasional localised flooding that happens in the space.

Both species are excellent at capturing pollution: the resinous leaves of the Sweetgum and the crinkled textures of the Hornbeam busy themselves catching harmful particulate matter in the air. These trees, which both promise a vibrant display of autumn colour, were planted in an alternating pattern to create lots of impact, complimenting the existing trees on site.

During the planting, we caught up with afterschool passers by we had met a few weeks earlier. Many shared their desire to pass by these trees on their daily walks between home and school, watching them grow. Both parents and children pitched in, some for a quick shovel of soil and others staying to participate in the whole tree planting experience, from start to finish.

While we were busy with the planting, John, Richard, and the dedicated team from Friends of Sparkhill Park were quietly tending to a fallen tree, tidying the area so that by the time we had finished, the entire space felt cared for.

During the planting, we were joined by a local yarnbomber who had kindly made a bundle of knitted daffodils for the base of one tree. We heard that these seasonal woollen flowers will be changed throughout the year to match the changing seasons. Perhaps this is a sign that some flower planting should happen in the space next.

Everyone was glad to see these additional trees, and with the busy Stoney Lane running alongside, lots of passers by stopped to share thanks and gratitude.