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Spring plantings to commemorate suffragette movement's achievements

Portsmouth City Council is backing plans for volunteers to plant more than 100 trees to mark 100 years since some women first got the vote.

The trees are to be planted around Portsmouth by local people, the authority and community groups to mark the success of the suffragette movement as part of International Women's Day.

The ‘Vote 100, Plant 100’ project was established by Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan with trees donated by The Tree Council and Rotary Club and support from the city council and local residents’ groups.

The planting is being carried out in collaboration with the Charles Dickens Community Orchards project and tree wardens with the council ensuring trees are planted in the North of the city.

It is hoped the project, which began successfully in 2017, will follow the Charles Dickens Trail and expand throughout the city in future.

The Trail is a walking route in Portsmouth, the city of Dickens' birth, and takes in 15 attractions linked to the great writer, including the Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum, St Mary's Church and the Hard.

International Women's Day is celebrated on 8 March every year and is a focal point in the movement for women's rights.

Tree planting started on 6 March and will continue to the 9 March at 14 sites across the city, from Paulsgrove to Portsea. The trees will provide free fruit for local people, plus opportunities to learn about trees, hedges and growing food.

Funding for the trees has been provided by The Tree Council and the Rotary Club. It is envisaged that this will start a rolling programme of planting over the ten years it took for men and women to obtain equal suffrage.

Young people from the city's adventure playgrounds, schools, community centres and youth clubs will join dignitaries from the council, including Stephen Morgan MP, Cabinet Member for Housing Cllr Darren Sanders, and the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Councillor Lee Mason, in attending.

Portsmouth City Council's Cabinet Member for Education, Councillor Suzy Horton said:

"It is great to be involved in such a project to mark International Women’s Day by commemorating the centenary of some women getting the vote. As well as trees helping to improve our environment, they symbolise the passing of time and serve as a reminder of our history and our future. In many ways they are great educators.

"The Charles Dickens Community Orchards project is an amazing initiative that is putting our city on the map and I am delighted that the Council is helping the project achieve that ambitious vision and mark the start of the decade-long journey it took women to be able to vote at the same age as men."

MP for Portsmouth South, Stephen Morgan, said:

“I’m so pleased to have had such a great response to the Vote 100 Plant 100 project, bringing an end to a year of community initiatives in Portsmouth to mark one hundred years since some women were given the right to vote.

I‘m hugely grateful for the donations of trees from the Tree Council, and support from the tree wardens and volunteers who have given up their time to help, and the city council and community groups for helping to secure sites for this lasting legacy for our celebrations.

I hope that through this simple community project we see more women to step forward into public life as we pay tribute to the heroic women who tirelessly fought for their democratic rights 100 years ago”.

Sara Lom, Chief Executive of The Tree Council, said:

“Trees root us in history and offer hope for the future. In our cities, they strengthen communities, provide homes for wildlife and contribute to our health and wellbeing. We’re very proud to have supported this project, which not only plants trees that will benefit Portsmouth but also honours the legacy of women’s suffrage.”




Spring planting sessions for the Charles Dickens Community Orchards. Volunteers are welcome and are to contact Trish Bell on 02392841698 or 07985427868

Wednesday 6 March

3.30pm Kingston Recreation Ground



Thursday 7 March

1.30pm - 3pm Darwin House in Australia Close Landport

2.45pm - 4.45pm Portsea Adventure Playground

3pm - 5pm Stamshaw Adventure Playground, Western Terrace

3pm - 5pm Buckland Adventure Playground



Friday 8 March

2.30pm - 3.15pm Charles Dickens Activity Centre Youth Club - Lake Rd

3.30pm - 4.45pm Landport Adventure Playground

3.30pm - 4.45pm Hillside Youth & Community Centre

4.00pm - 5.00pm Baffins Pond Wood

4.45pm - 5.45pm Charles Dickens Activity Centre Youth Club garden



Saturday 9 March

12.30pm - 2.30pm Somerstown Adventure Playground

1pm - 2.30pm Portsea Youth Club at the John Pounds Centre

2.30pm - 3.45pm Brooke Club - Around the Hub, Somerstown



Portsea North on the 14 - 16 March

Times to be confirmed - Queen Street, Sarah Robinson House, King William Street, Bonfire Corner



Wednesday 13 March

Afternoon - Tamworth Park



Friday 15 March

12.30pm - 2.30pm Paulsgrove Adventure Playground and Community Centre



For more information about The Tree Council, visit www.treecouncil.org.uk

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