A group of 15 University of West London (UWL) student volunteers supported charity Letting Grow and Ealing Council recently in their efforts to re-forest Glade Lane Canalside Park in Southall. They were joined by members of UWL’s Volunteering team and SU President Namira Shrestha in planting more than 150 trees over 2–3 hours.
The Glade Lane Canalside Park project is being funded by the Mayor of London, in partnership with the Canal and River Trust and Peabody Housing Association. It is part of the creation of Southall Wellbeing Way, an initiative to transform the area by creating new wildlife habitats.
The group’s efforts helped to restore degraded land with productive, future forest cover to improve soil quality, boost water infiltration and biodiversity, store carbon for decades, and strengthen local resilience.
The creation of this forested space will also improve the Southall community’s awareness, engagement, and oversight of their natural capital, while offering environmental education opportunities and improved air quality locally.
According to the UWL Sustainability Department’s estimation using the Woodland Code, the 150 trees are expected to capture 600kg of carbon per year.
Namira Shrestha, SU President, said:
“The project brought our community together to restore local green space and take real action for the environment. For students, it offered a chance to step outside the classroom, connect with nature, build teamwork skills, and feel the joy of contributing to something bigger than themselves. Knowing that the trees we planted will support Southall’s wellbeing for years to come made the experience even more meaningful.”
Several Public Health students at UWL’s College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare were part of the group, encouraged by their lecturer Janine Braithwaite, who commented:
“At the end of the first semester, students coming together to do something to improve the local area was perfect timing! For these Public Health students, it was a win-win, feeling part of the wider UWL community and focusing on their own personal care for promoting and preventing ill health. Active initiatives like these boost mental and physical health for all students whilst enhancing confidence levels and communication with one another.”
