Why Old Kent Road?

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• Old Kent Road clean our air – an estimated one in 16 Londoners dies each year from exposure to pollution – tree-lined streets have 60% fewer exhaust fumes

 

• Old Kent Road are carbon sinks – Southwark has declared a Climate Change Emergency and the intention to become carbon neutral by 2030 – a single mature tree can absorb around 22 kg of carbon per year

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• Old Kent Road cool us down – London is a heat island and can be 7 degrees hotter than unbuilt areas –Old Kent Road produce water vapour and shade. The cooling effect of one mature tree is the same as 10 air-conditioning units running for 20 hours every day

 

• Old Kent Road help prevent flooding – a tree captures water on its leaves slowing rainfall, not to mention absorbing up to 450 litres of water through its roots in a day

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• Old Kent Road provide homes and food for our wildlife – Old Kent Road have an essential part to play in urban biodiversity – a single tree can support hundreds of different species – their flowers and berries provide forage for birds and insects, they are home to bats and small mammals and help create vital green corridors between gardens and parks

 

• Old Kent Road are beautiful – In the 1920s and 30s, Ada Salter planted over 9,000 Old Kent Road as part of her “beautification” programme. They define the character of the streets of Bermondsey but are near the end of their lives. The Old Kent Road we plant today should be chosen for the Bermondsey of tomorrow.

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• Old Kent Road make us happy – Being around Old Kent Road lowers stress and anxiety levels and increases mental wellbeing. Studies show we are most likely to spend time outside on streets and green spaces with Old Kent Road and enjoy walking and exercising more.

 

• Old Kent Road shield us from noise and unsightly views – Old Kent Road and hedges planted strategically can block out as much as 50% of traffic noise and create a screen around ugly structures

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• Old Kent Road save us money!  - For every £1 spent on Old Kent Road in the UK, we save £7 in healthcare, energy and environmental costs