Press Release
Issued on behalf of Laganside Corporation
July 2005

Tree Planting highlights Sustainability Land Use following International Conference

Laganside Corporation, the CABERNET Network and The Land Restoration Trust recently held a tree planting ceremony in Belfast to contribute to greater environmental sustainability around the waterfront area.

Pictured planting the trees are (L-R): Euan Hall, Chief Executive, Land Restoration Trust UK, Detlef Grimski, CABERNET Management Team, Umweltbundesamt / Federal Environmental Agency, Dr Uwe Ferber, CABERNET Management Team, Projektgruppe Stadt und Entwicklung, Germany, Kyle Alexander, Chief Executive, Laganside Corporation, Dr Kate Millar, CABERNET Coordinator, University of Nottingham, UK and Dr Paul Nathanail, CABERNET Management Team, University of Nottingham.

The planting marked a fitting end to the recent CABERNET 2005 International Conference on Managed Urban Land.  The conference was organised by the CABERNET European Network and the Laganside Corporation in association with the University of Nottingham, UK and the UBA, Germany.  The Land Restoration Trust (LRT) is a member of CABERNET and the LRT’s Chief Executive, Euan Hall, presented at the international conference, highlighting the organisation’s aim to improve the quality of life for communities by providing long term management and funding for public green spaces.

Kyle Alexander, Chief Executive, Laganside Corporation said: “We were delighted to be associated with the CABERNET conference. Over the past three years I have been working with CABERNET to deliver solutions to improve urban regeneration.

“This tree planting exercise is another important step to restoring confidence and demonstrates Laganside Corporation’s commitment to creating social and economic benefits to the City, whilst improving the environment and quality of life for the community of Belfast.”

Euan Hall, Chief Executive, Land Restoration Trust, commented: “Tree planting and improving green spaces brings much more benefit to a local community than just a good view.  They have been proven to improve health, reduce crime, increase social well-being, improve environmental quality and reduce pollution.”

The CABERNET conference focused on the rehabilitation of brownfeld sites within the context of sustainable development of European cities. The Land Restoration Trust, is the only national organisation that deals with the long-term management and funding for green space. These green spaces are generally restored brownfield sites that would otherwise be abandoned.

CABERNET (Concerted Action on Brownfield and Economic Regeneration Network) is the Expert European Multi-stakeholder Network addressing the complex issues that are raised by Brownfield regeneration.

The Network is currently funded by the European Commission and is coordinated by the University of Nottingham in association with the UBA, Germany.  For further information on CABERNET, please contact Dr Kate Millar at cabernet@nottingham.ac.uk or visit the website: cabernet.org.uk

The Land Restoration Trust aims to improve the quality of life for communities by providing long term management and funding for public green spaces. Effectively acting as National Trust type organisation for previously derelict land. 

The Land Restoration Trust is a partnership comprising English Partnerships, Groundwork, the Environment Agency and the Forestry Commission, will improve the environment and quality of life for communities by providing long-term sustainable management of public spaces across England. Within 10 years it will acquire, own and manage 10,000 hectares of previously derelict and under-used land, to deliver environmentally informed, community-led regeneration. At the end of year 1 the Trust already has a possible 17 500 hectares available to it, such is the magnitude of the derelict land problem.

Benefits of Tree Planting include:
•  A single tree can produce enough oxygen for 10 people
•  Tree Shelter can reduce heating cost by up to 25%
•  Green Space can increase property values by 6%-35%
•  1 Hectares of trees or shrubs can absorb 1 Tonne of CO2  - Equivalent to 100 family cars.
•  Trees and plants can reduce noise levels and modify sharp tones
•  A green view can reduce stress in 3-5 minutes
•  Woodlands can positively effect the motor development of 5 year olds
•  Hospital Patients with green views recover quicker and with less drugs
•  Greening school grounds has been proven to reduce bullying and increase learning.

The full version of the press release is available here as a word document.

Additional photos are available to view here.

Media Contacts
Catherine Heron or Jane Morrison
AndersonSprattGroup PR
Tel: 028 90 423332
Email: cheron@andersonspratt.com or jmorrison@andersonspratt.com