Work in this winter’s planting season has seen 350 trees planted in the local community as part of the Armley Gyratory improvement scheme in Leeds. This is in addition to the 206 trees planted last year, making a total of 556 trees, which is well on the way to a Council target of planting over 660 new trees for the scheme.
Last week at Armley Park, 10 Walnut trees were planted by volunteers, councillors, project team and organised by Leeds City Council’s parks and countryside rangers. This follows 139 trees planted in close proximity to the Armley Gyratory and also 18 trees planted across the Clyde Estate in this planting season.
The council say it’s engaged with the local community groups and councillors, along with consultations with residents to develop locations and designs for off-site planting. There’s been a wide variety of tree types with broad leaf native species, like Maple, Lime, Hornbeam and Oaks, along with Walnut, fruit and Cherry trees.
In January 2022, as part of the wider Armley Gyratory scheme, approximately 220 trees were removed to accommodate the new gyratory alignment, road and footpath widening. Tree removal will also provide greater visibility for pedestrians and cyclists travelling through the area. This is important to improve both the safety and personal security of pedestrians and cyclists travelling around the gyratory. The council is re-planting new trees at a three to one ratio.
In autumn last year the highways construction work completed to remodel the Armley Gyratory. The changes to the gyratory have improved vehicle throughput at the junction and are a component of transformative highways works to remove through traffic’ across the city centre, mitigate environmental issues, better connect neighbourhoods, and encourage people to travel on foot or by bike.
More recent activity on the phase two structures work to three Armley Gyratory footbridges is well underway. Last month the council removed and replaced Gelderd Road footbridge, over a single weekend ahead of schedule.
(Picture – Leeds City Council)
