Manchester Tree-Athlon 2008

Sunday 5th October 2008, Heaton Park

Registration for the 2008 Manchester Tree-Athlon is now open!

This year we are taking the Tree-Athlon to Manchester for the first time and calling on all people in the Manchester area to beat the Leeds and London registration numbers and run for a greener city.

Trees for Cities in Greater Manchester

Trees for Cities has been running greening projects in Greater Manchester since 2005 in partnership with the Red Rose Forest, one of 12 Community Forests in England that are regenerating the environment in and around many of England's urban centres. Together, and with the help of local residents and schoolchildren, we transformed a barren, former prisoner-of-war camp at Kingsway Park, Trafford into urban woodland and planted 900 trees in a corner of Hough End Playing Fields, providing a haven for local wildlife and residents alike. At Cringle Fields Park in Levenshulme we created a new woodland plot, a natural amphitheatre with hedgerow planting and an orchard of fruit trees to really make an impact.

How you can help

We need your help for new greening projects in Manchester, including the creation of tree-lined avenues and an orchard of trees at Crowcroft Park in Longsight and more urban woodland plots at Cringle Fields Park. We'll also continue to build on our work with local schools and community groups, involving them in the process of the projects from design to planting and maintenance.

To achieve this we need your support, so please register now and see how the funds you raise can make our cities greener!

5 km run

The 5 km race is open to everyone over 14 years old and to all abilities. The route takes you past some of the highlights of the Heaton Park estate, including the lake, Heaton Hall and the Orangery and will be available to download soon. The warm-up for the race will start at 11:30am.

Tree wish

As a runner, you will be given the opportunity to declare your tree wish! It will be printed on your personalised running bib for you to share with the world.

Plant a sapling

After the run you will be given a sapling to take home and plant, helping you to create your own green space and give something back to your local environment.

Come to the Tree Party!

There will be a fabulous Tree Party at Heaton Park on the day of the Tree-Athlon so bring your families along and come and visit the Hedgehog Rescue team, see an awesome aerial display from Vale Royal Falconry, admire the tree climbers, wood turners and willow weaver, listen to storytelling and try your hand at making woodland creature hats and masks for the Carnival of the Animals procession that will end the Tree-Athlon event! For more information please email Suzanne or contact her on 0161 953 2751.

Prizes and entertainment

There will be lots of prizes up for grabs on the day and the village fête atmosphere including picnicking, entertainers and stalls means it's a great day out for all the family.

So, register now to be part of the 2008 Manchester Tree-Athlon!