Labour in Leeds

Green fingered Cottingley residents took to the streets alongside their local Councillors last weekend as they planted trees next to the busy M621. Councillor Angela Gabriel was more than happy to get her hands dirty as she helped to plant around 150 trees which, it is hoped, will help reduce the noise from the motorway and screen the estate from the road. 

The trees were paid for jointly by Cottingley in Bloom, Leeds City Council Parks and Countryside Department and South Leeds Health for All. The keen gardeners are hoping that the trees will provide shelter for the wildlife that gathers there and encourage more birds and small mammals to take up residence. 

Councillor Angela Gabriel (Beeston & Holbeck) said  “It was great fun to be out on Saturday morning planting the trees.  The residents of Cottingley are very proud of where they live and the Cottingley in Bloom group are always looking for new ways to improve the local landscape. I really do hope that once the trees have matured they will provide a screen from the motorway and that they will go some way to reducing the noise from the passing traffic. We should encourage everyone to think about how they can contribute to their environment, even doing something small can help local wildlife and we need as many people to get involved as possible.” 

Photo shows Councillors Angela Gabriel and David Congreve with local Cottingley residents Doreen Bird and Janet Neville.