GROUPS in York are branching out to make the city greener, healthier and more sustainable by planting 50,000 trees.

The Treemendous York initiative, set up by City of York Council and local wildlife groups, aims to enlist the support of local residents, schools, businesses, groups and community organisations to help achieve the epic task by April 2014.

Kate Lock, of the York Environment Forum, said: “We all look forward to working with York residents and the council to help to transform our city by tree planting wherever we can: whether in people’s front gardens, in our public spaces or by our roadsides,” she said.

“We are confident that under this initiative York will be vastly greener in 20 years’ time: something for us and future generations to look forward to.”

Leaflets explaining how to get involved in Treemendous York will be distributed in libraries, City of York Council’s customer service centres reception at 9 St Leonard’s Place and other public buildings around the city.

Anyone interested should either email community.planning@york.gov.uk, visit york.gov.uk or phone 01904 551474.