With storms like Ophelia on the way, trees need protecting more than ever

Thirty years ago today, Britain woke up to the devastation of the worst storm in living memory.

The Great Storm of 1987 killed 18 people, caused more than £1 billion of damage and destroyed 250,000 trees in London. The city was changed.

Evening Standard columnist Angus McGill led a major campaign to replant the capital’s fallen trees.

Last week, his former colleagues and friends gathered on the Strand, where the Lord Mayor of Westminster and I unveiled a plaque in his honour, two years after his death. The spot could not have been more fitting, next to a towering oak tree planted on the first anniversary of the Great Storm.

It is estimated there are now about eight million trees in London, and a fifth of inner London is covered by tree canopies. Westminster’s trees make a contribution to London’s reputation as one of the world’s greenest cities.

Last week, we published the findings from our first public consultation on Oxford Street. There was significant support for the transformation of the UK’s high street but we need financial support from the Government and have lodged a compelling case with the Treasury ahead of the budget in November to fund the improvements.

Environment is intrinsically linked with our standard of living. A green cityscape makes everyone feel better.

And as one of my priorities is to reduce long-term unemployment in the City, keeping Westminster leafy is intrinsic to helping people looking for work in a solid and practical way.

Westminster Employment Service recently launched a Green Jobs project, in which experienced horticulture supervisors from the charity Groundwork London assist out-of-work residents in improving gardens and green spaces.

Working with the environment, our residents gain accredited skills, confidence, work experience and paid employment for at least six months.

Green Jobs is one of a number of council initiatives that have helped more than 1,500 unemployed people into work in the past two years.

The green environment helps in other ways. Trees and plants are good for local businesses and are a key player in our fight against pollution.

Our Marylebone Low Emission Neighbourhood is introducing an extensive planting programme because plants clean the air we breathe by absorbing harmful pollutants.

Trees have great psychological benefits, encourage walking, and they can fundamentally change people’s perception of the area they live in.

McGill recognised how vital trees are to the prosperity of Londoners and how urgent it was that they had to be replaced. This anniversary should serve as a reminder that we must never take our city’s trees for granted.

Robert Davis is deputy leader of Westminster City Council