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Over 5,000 trees were planted across nine sites in Walsall last week by volunteers from Severn Trent and the Walsall community to celebrate the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Two-year-old Sophie Lane from Walsall had the honour of planting the first tree of the entire project when she visited Walsall Arboretum on Monday. Her Grandmother, Patti Lane, described the Tiny Forest project as ‘fabulous’.  

Patti said: “The Arboretum is a special site for the people of Walsall as well as our family because further on in the Arboretum about ten years ago when they were planting oak trees near the children’s play area, Sophie’s other grandmother, Christine, came and helped plant a tree there.  

“I thought it would be fitting for Sophie to come and do the same because Chris died after a long battle against cancer in August 2020. It will be lovely for Sophie to see this tree grow.  

“I think the Tiny Forests idea is fabulous, planting trees is what we need to be doing and it’s been very special for us to be here today.”  

As Birmingham 2022’s Official Nature & Carbon Neutral Supporter, Severn Trent is working to support Birmingham 2022 in its pledge to leave a carbon-neutral legacy. 

The water company is planting a total of 72 tennis-court-sized Tiny Forests across the West Midlands in the coming months, one for each of the nations and territories competing at the Commonwealth Games in 2022. Each Tiny Forest will be made up of 600 trees, and will play an important role in supporting environmental education across the Midlands.

Environmental charity, Earthwatch Europe, is supporting Severn Trent in the delivery of the Tiny Forests, which can attract over 500 animal and plant species within the first three years of planting. 

Further information on volunteering for upcoming planting days across the region can be found here.