And volunteers helping to plant the 3,000 saplings may also be in with a chance of finding true love, by participating in a speed date as they plant.

Greater Manchester’s community forest organisation, Red Rose Forest’s Green Streets team has linked up with national charity Trees for Cities, recruiting students from the University of Manchester to plant the hedgerows around the perimeter of the park, reinforcing park boundaries, encouraging biodiversity and providing a habitat for the park’s wildlife.

The students will take turns in planting trees in pairs, getting to know each other in the process.

Members of the local community, including the Friends of Sunnybrow Park group, will take over from the students in the afternoon, continuing to plant the beech, crab apple, holly and field maple saplings. Gorton residents are welcome to turn up to Sunnybrow Park between 1pm and 3pm to join in.

Manchester City Council, which maintains Sunnybrow Park, is also inviting residents to take part in the event as part of the Proud Of Manchester campaign, celebrating life in the city’s neighbourhoods.

Hilary Wood, Green Streets Manager at Red Rose Forest, said: “Though Red Rose Forest and Trees for Cities have a longstanding relationship, we’ve never put on a themed event like this before. This is exactly what our Green Streets project is all about: improving the quality of life for urban communities by greening our environment.”

David Blair, Trees for Cities’ Regional Projects Coordinator, added: “We’re really looking forward to getting the volunteers out planting, which will benefit the park and local residents, and you never know – they might find tree love in the process!”

Councillor Richard Cowell, Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for the Environment, said: “This will be an excellent opportunity for residents to help make Manchester even greener, and hopefully it will even provide a chance for love to blossom!”

The event takes place at Sunnybrow Park between 11.30am – 1.30pm for the student speed date tree plant and 1.30pm-3pm for the local community tree plant on Valentine’s Day, Sunday 14th February 2010.

Source: Green Streets