The Dorchester Hotel Plants Trees to Celebrate its 80th Birthday

 The Dorchester Hotel has planted the first of 80 trees for London as part of its 80^th anniversary tree planting project, in collaboration with international tree charity ‘Trees for Cities’.

  The first tree, a ‘Liriodendron Tulipifera’ or ‘Tulip Tree’ was planted on Curzon Street by entrepreneur Jo Wood.  Roland Mouret, Lily Cole and Anya Hindmarch have also lent their support to the project.  In coming months, an English Oak will be planted in Green Park and an Ash in Hyde Park, while further sites are identified by Trees for Cities.

  Inspiration for the project came from the listed Plane Tree - one of the ‘Great Trees of London’ that marks the entrance to The Dorchester, one of Mayfair's most famous addresses, when the hotel sought to mark its 80^th anniversary by creating a legacy that would benefit the city. Seventy-nine further long living trees will be planted across London in time for the Olympics including 15 in Mayfair and St. James’s to form The Dorchester Anniversary Walk.

  Trees for Cities chief executive, Sharon Johnson, said: “Through this high profile project Trees for Cities hopes to inform the public on the importance of planting a future generation of trees in London wherever possible.  The planting of these 80 long-living trees will provide clean air and help enhance the London cityscape for hundreds of years to come; and thanks to the support of The Dorchester and individuals such as Jo Wood, Roland Mouret, Lily Cole and Anya Hindmarch more people will hear about the importance of planting these essential trees in our cities.”

 “I am extremely proud of the hotel’s green team leading the project,” said the Dorchester's general manager Roland Fasel. “By marking our anniversary this way, we’re not just paying tribute to the past but creating 80 living monuments to be enjoyed far into the future.”

  This tree planting exercise is part of a broader trend among luxury companies including some of the world’s most famous hotels such as Ritz-Carlton to improve their green credentials.