The Armley Gyratory improvement scheme has led to 350 new trees being planted in the area this winter, the council has said.
This is in addition to the 206 trees planted last year, making a total of 556 trees. Council chiefs aim to plant 660 new trees in total.
Last week at Armley Park, 10 Walnut trees were planted by volunteers, councillors, project team and organised by Leeds City Council’s parks and countryside rangers. This follows 139 trees planted in close proximity to the Armley Gyratory and also 18 trees planted across the Clyde Estate in this planting season.
In January 2022, as part of the wider Armley Gyratory scheme, approximately 220 trees were removed to accommodate the new gyratory alignment, road and footpath widening. Tree removal will also provide greater visibility for pedestrians and cyclists travelling through the area.
In autumn last year the highways construction work completed to remodel the Armley Gyratory. The changes to the gyratory have improved vehicle throughput at the junction and are a component of transformative highways works to remove through traffic’ across the city centre, mitigate environmental issues, better connect neighbourhoods, and encourage people to travel on foot or by bike.
More recent activity on the phase two structures work to three Armley Gyratory footbridges is well under way. Last month the council removed and replaced Gelderd Road footbridge.
Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for sustainable development and infrastructure, said: “I am delighted to see progress on the tree planting this season and to have been involved in planting more trees at Armley Park in connection to this major scheme.
“The 556 trees in total mark a major milestone contributing to the total number of trees we need to plant. We have planted trees across Armley, Beeston, Holbeck, Chapel Allerton, Temple Newsam, Hunslet, Calverley and Farsley, including 196 next to the gyratory itself aiming to have a lasting impact. They will help to reduce carbon, encourage wildlife and act as habitats for many species.
“The gyratory’s location constrain planting many more trees there and so we have worked with the communities to identify more suitable locations, such as Beggars Hill, Clyde Estate and Armley Park.
“I would like to thank people for their patience while the ongoing footbridge works are carried out on the Armley Gyratory. I can’t wait to see the completion of this scheme later this year.”
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I’m all in favour of more trees being planted, but will these saplings be looked after in their early life? You see so many of these schemes where there is absolutely no aftercare and you just end up with a load of dead twigs, which is just a waste.