The areas in and around Manchester targetted by the Green Streets initiative suffered from social problems including vandalism, graffiti and other youth crime. Residents wanted to remove overgrown bushes which they felt made the areas potentially threatening places, clear unsightly spaces and green their neighbourhoods.

The aim of the project is to be a sustainable greening project where the impact reaches much further than aesthetic appearance of the street scene. Residents wanted to engage and work with young people to help develop the community and improve their local environment.

The national Community Forest programme is one of the UK’s biggest ever land-based regeneration programmes, providing physical transformation through the ‘greening’ of areas, together with community involvement.

Discussion with the community about the type of greening project for each area forms the basis of the Green Streets approach.

In three years, the Green Streets Initiative has been involved in 40+ projects in the boroughs of Trafford, Manchester and Salford with tree survival rates of between 96-98%. A tree-sponsoring scheme was introduced and Red Rose Forest is now involved in training in the aftercare of trees and greenery.

Support from local resident ‘ownership’ of their street trees and ensuring sustainable management was an important element. Many communities have learned new, transferable skills and this demonstrates that the projects are not simply a way of making areas look better, but a catalyst for real and sustainable social change.

The community

Questionnaires, door-to-door interviews and cross-partner consultation enable the design of a project which is truly tailor-made for the area, reflecting the cultural or religious make-up of the community.

Red Rose Forest
Green Streets Manager

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case

Urban Policy > Urban environment

Environmental sustainability