National Trust plants 600 fruit trees around the No 11 bus route in Birmingham - here’s why

The National Trust has launched its Birmingham blossom tree planting week by delivering young fruit trees on the city’s world famous No 11 bus route - which goes all around the outer circle road.

The trust is giving away more than 600 blossoming trees to people who live along the bus route to create a symbolic ring of blossom and increase biodiversity, using funds raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

The conservation charity has been inspired by Birmingham’s botanical history - the city was once surrounded by orchards and gardens with blossoming trees and referred to as ‘a town ringed by blossom’ in the mid-1700s.

Working closely with National Express West Midlands, the National Trust will deliver a mixture of apple, pear, plum, and ornamental cherry trees to residents, community groups, and schools along the 27-mile number 11 bus route which begins in Acocks Green.

The No 11 route serves over 260 bus stops near 233 schools, colleges or universities, 69 leisure and community facilities, 40 pubs, 19 retail centres, six hospitals, and one prison. The tree roots will take around two years to become established but should bloom for the first time this year.

The blossom tree planting is the latest stage of a legacy programme that started last spring when the National Trust created pop-up blossom gardens in Birmingham city centre as part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival. The trees then went on to create a nature oasis at the Smithfield festival site during the Commonwealth Games.

What’s been said about the scheme?

Lucy Reid, who leads the National Trust’s Birmingham Strategy, said: “We’re so excited to be at the planting stage of the new, symbolic ring of blossom around Birmingham. Last summer we put a call-out for people to register for free blossoming trees and we were delighted with the response. Now, those trees are being delivered and planted with everyone involved playing their part in an important legacy for the city.

“Blossom is not only beautiful, it’s also vital for the wellbeing of our environment – and for us. It is great for pollinators such as bees, which help trees produce fruit, and the trees also help to clean the air we breathe by absorbing carbon and producing oxygen.

“We know that, through urban expansion, since the 1900s the number of orchards in Birmingham has dropped by 85 per cent – that’s an area the equivalent of around 10 Bullring shopping centres. This legacy project is helping to bring back some of that blossom and we hope to encourage more people to plant blossom trees too.”

One of the residents helping to create the symbolic ring of blossom is Claire Unwin. Explaining why she wanted to take part, Claire said: “We have an allotment and when I heard the trees were being given away, I thought it would be perfect to have one or two at the allotment to help with pollination as well as bring some colour during spring. I’ve always enjoyed seeing blossom on the trees, it marks a beautiful start to the season and everything coming to life.”

Another recipient of trees is Hodge Hill College, a secondary school in Birmingham. Garry Griffin, Building Manager, at the school said: “We try to make the most of our green spaces, so we jumped at the chance to support the project and bring some extra blossom to the school. It’s great to get the pupils involved as well so they have a better understanding of our natural environment and why it’s important to look after it.”