Local Residents Build Positive Resolutions With Network Rail.

By Ruth Kettle-Frisby – Guest Writer and Community Activist

Ruth is passionate about fostering positive change within the local community and regularly contributes insights and stories to The Havering Daily.

Having fought hard for over three years to save our trees along the Liberty Line – our little ‘push and pull’ railway line that runs from Romford to Upminster via Emerson Park and back – positive resolutions are finally being nurtured between residents and Network Rail.

An exciting new re-planting scheme is set to align with National Tree week at the end of November during the dormant winter season. Encouragingly, this is being developed by Network Rail in partnership with local environmental activists, Jen Taylor, Rosina Purnell, Ruth Wollacott, Gina Must, and Ruth Kettle-Frisby.

Resident activists have been in discussions with Network Rail since March 2025 and are thrilled to be making plans to involve the local community in learning about and caring for our natural environment, prioritising local school children.

There are opportunities for everything from community tree-planting to community gardening.

Residents are delighted with the news, and look forward to:

• a September pre-planting ecology report

• possible planned pre-planting de-vegetation workson the bramble

• the forthcoming Delivery and Maintenance plan by the contractor

Ruth Kettle-Frisby summarises that “essentially, we will continue to push to protect our trees while we develop positive relationships in the spirit of public transparency, sustained open dialogue with Network Rail, and collaborative environmental initiatives with our local communities”.

Tree planting has been collaboratively designed to increase biodiversity and complement each season, with a colourful array of flowering and fruit bearing tree to feed and shelter a variety of species of wildlife.

Below is the planned schedule by Network Rail, that we will be following with interest.

As local residents continue to strive to protect thisbeloved corridor of thriving wildlife amidst an otherwise urban landscape, we are very hopeful that this marksthe beginning of a long and fruitful partnership with Network Rail.

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