AI-rewritten: This is a summary of an article from Positive News, rewritten by AI (Qwen, running locally) to make it easier to read. The facts come from the original article – read it for the full story.

---

Organisers of an ambitious project called the London Tree Ring say ten million people will benefit from a cooler and more biodiverse capital. The plan involves creating a 200km (124 mile) green corridor around the outer boroughs of London, which charity CPRE London describes as "an M25 for nature." This initiative aims to safeguard greenbelt areas, improve biodiversity in neglected woodlands, and help return species that have nearly vanished from the city’s trees.

The project relies heavily on community involvement over the next 25 years. Local groups, schools, skills providers, and landowners are invited to find new sites, plant trees, and maintain green spaces. Phil Paulo, director of London Tree Ring, explained that working with people who have a vested interest allows them to follow the trees from seed to maturity. In return, residents expect benefits such as urban cooling, carbon fixation, and community orchards.

Officially launching on 15 October after years of research and test sites, the project has already seen success in specific locations. On London’s south-west border, partners revived hedgerows by planting 1,500 trees, including disease-resistant elms. These trees are crucial because they are the sole food source for white-letter hairstreak butterflies, whose populations have fallen by 80% due to the loss of native elm trees. In Sutton, a ‘Miyawake’ microforest was created using a Japanese method that involves densely planting native trees into fungi-enriched soil to boost nutrient uptake with limited irrigation.