NCP Manchester backs Heaton Park Tree-Athlon
24 July 2008
With the support of NCP Manchester car parks and Manchester City Council, international charity Trees for Cities brings a new event to Manchester, the Tree-Athlon, and a 5K run.
The event will raise money to plant trees in and around the city.
Like a conventional triathlon, the Tree-Athlon is in three parts: a 5km fun-run, an urban tree wish and the planting of a sapling at home or in specially created woodland at Heaton Park.
With the financial help of its sponsors, Trees for Cities aims to raise enough money to support another 15 urban greening schemes ranging from woodlands to community gardens and street trees in Manchester, other UK cities and international projects in Kenya, Ethiopia and Peru.
As headline sponsors of the Tree-Athlon, NCP Manchester wishes to position their company at the heart of the community and promote their Green Badge Parking Scheme, which offers financial savings to customers using low emission vehicles.
NCP Manchester will have a stand at the Tree-Athlon where anybody can come along to find out more about the Green Badge Parking scheme.
Mike Pemberton, Managing Director of NCP Manchester said: "We are delighted to support the Tree-Athlon and promote our Green Badge Parking scheme, to show our customers and residents of Manchester that we are committed to cutting our carbon footprint and supporting tree planting projects in Manchester.
"Such is our commitment to measures that reduce the CO2 emissions; we are pleased to announce that we have extended the Green Badge Parking scheme to accommodate anybody who wishes to apply.
"Our vision for a sustainable city is one where people choose to live work and invest and can move safely around using a variety of transport options. We want our city to have an environment enhanced by the natural biodiversity provided by trees and parks."
Councillor Richard Cowell, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for the Environment said:
"As well as cutting our carbon footprint, trees are an important part of our response to climate change and our drive to become Britain's greenest city; we therefore welcome the Tree-Athlon as a valuable addition to Manchester's event calendar.
"We are delighted that NCP Manchester is supporting the Tree-Athlon and promoting the Green Badge Parking Scheme to offer financial incentives for drivers to use lower emission cars."
Trees for Cities Chief Executive Graham Simmonds said: "Climate change is the number one issue for our generation and we need to be planting trees in cities now more than ever. We welcome the support of NCP Manchester and applaud their efforts to reduce their environmental footprint by offering their Green Parking Scheme to all their customers who use lower emission vehicles."
Individuals and company teams can take part in the Tree-Athlon on Sunday 5 October by registering at: www.tree-athlon.org/2008
It is open to everyone aged 14 or over regardless of ability, but spaces are limited so runners should register as soon as possible.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Conrad Astley, Press Office, 0161 234 4027
