This week I had the pleasure of chatting with Jess Massucco, who manages Trees for Cities  London community outreach and volunteer programme for Urban Forests. Which means Jess gets a lot of Londoners planting a lot of trees! 

Jess spoke about her journey from University to her current post, and all her amazing experiences along the way including growing food with young offenders. 

Hear all about Trees for Cities Edible Playground Projects, and Urban Forest planting plans which "encourage people to access nature... and can be the first step towards environmental action"

Jess speaks about the fact that although Trees for Cities have planted an impressive million plus trees, it is the tree canopy that is really important: " providing a habitat, food and shelter for wildlife... beauty and a sense of place, shelter and cooling and cleaning air.... they prevent flooding and are used in a cool, technical, engineering way, as well as in a warm, symbolic emotional way" and how as an organisation they combine environmental action and social change, inviting action which is good for people and planet. 

Jess gives great tips for getting involved with supporting your local trees, and the importance that we face facts "we are investing time, energy and hope into green infrastructure programmes... we are aware of what we are battling but being honest and truthful leads to hope... we say... its not looking good but there is room to be hopeful"

Jess and I discuss the importance of justice, balance and equal opportunity so that "everything has the chance to thrive" and how she is influenced and inspired by the Black Lives Matters movement.

To get involved with Trees for Cities please go here

Jess also recommended 

Conservation Volunteers, to find out more go here

RSPB, go here

and Wildlife Trust, go here 

and for my local lovely park group Deptford Folk go here

My book "How To Be Hopeful" is out now and is available from all the usual places, including many lovely independents such as Whitstable's newly opened Harbour Books. You can visit them here 

Thanks for listening- more soon

Love Bernadette