Hundreds of trees are being planted in Bidston and Birkenhead providing a green link between residential areas and the major Wirral Waters regeneration project.

By April this year, more than 600 trees across 8km will have been planted in streets as part of “Wirral Green Streets” project.

The scheme has just entered its second year and will see trees planted on streets including Price Street, Cleveland Street, Argyle Street and Hamilton Street, key transport routes around Wirral Waters.

Trees will also be planted at Wirral Met College as well as in social housing landscapes and gardens.

The planting follows consultation with Birkenhead residents and businesses during the last year.

Ben Greenaway, Green Streets co-ordinator at The Mersey Forest, which is managing the project, said: “The launch of this part of the three year programme follows the planting of over 370 trees in Wirral last year.

“By planting these trees, we are transforming grey streets into leafy green thoroughfares, improving the area’s prospects for further investment.

“Our recent research shows that local people would be more willing to walk and cycle if the routes were lined with trees.

“We hope that by providing greener routes we will boost health and wellbeing and promote the use of sustainable transport within Wirral.”

Richard Mawdsley, project director at Peel Holdings -  managing the development of Wirral Waters - said: “We believe that trees lead to jobs. Improving the attractiveness of an area improves investor confidence, therefore boosting the local economy.

“This is vital in the context of the Wirral Waters development nearby.”