Here's your Friday update, covering: Tree Guardians wanted to help care for Cardiff's thirsty trees; more than 40 years of youth exchange with Stuttgart; Microsoft Centre London hosts visit from Cardiff's young people; and the Unpaid Carers Impact Group.

Tree Guardians wanted to help care for Cardiff's thirsty trees

Thanks to an army of willing volunteers, 20,000 new trees have been planted in Cardiff since last autumn as part of a mass tree-planting programme aimed at supporting biodiversity and increasing tree canopy coverage in the city from 18.9% to 25%.

But new trees need a lot of water to survive and the recent hot weather has led Cardiff Council to ask more residents to come forward as ‘Tree Guardians' to help care for the trees, and look after the thousands that line the city streets.

Coed Caerdydd Project Manager Chris Engel said: "You can generally spot when a tree is dehydrated by looking at its leaves - if they're starting to wilt, their leaves are yellowing, or they're losing leaves, then that's a sure sign they need some water.

"Trees will always benefit from a drop of water every day - the larger ones we've planted need more - but really anything will help, especially early in the morning or in the evening once the temperature has dropped. That way less water is lost to evaporation.

"Even well-established trees suffer when rainfall is as low as it has been recently and we'd ask residents to think about the trees that may have been standing in the street outside their house for generations and any we have recently planted on the streets. Certainly for new trees this summer is shaping up to be pretty challenging.

"Many of our volunteers are already helping us out by keeping an eye on the trees that have been planted in their neighbourhood, but we want as many trees as possible to go on to thrive, so they can start doing all the amazing things that we know they do. The more tree guardians we have working with us, the more trees we'll go into next autumn with, and the quicker we can all start reaping the benefits."

The trees planted over the past six months include fruit trees such as apple, hazel, pear and plum and non-fruiting trees such as alder, beech, hornbeam and rowan. Together they cover an area of land the equivalent of 11.2 football pitches.

Cllr Jennifer Burke-Davies, Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Events, said: "The community response to the Coed Caerdydd project has been incredible. It is thanks to volunteers across the city that there has been a step-change in the number of trees planted over the last season.

"We're doing what we can, but watering 20,000 trees is a massive job, and any further help residents can provide over the coming weeks will be of real benefit to the trees, and to our efforts to make Cardiff a One Planet city."

Read more here:

https://www.cardiffnewsroom.co.uk/releases/c25/29608.html

More than 40 years of youth exchange with Stuttgart

Young people who access North Ely Youth Service and Cardiff's wider Youth Services provision, have embarked on the 41st youth exchange with Stamheim Youth Centre in Stuttgart.

The group of eight 13-17 year olds, will spend 10 days exploring Austria, enjoying indoor and outdoor activities as well as visits to the Mercedes Benz Museum and a theme park.

To find out more about Cardiff Youth Service visit:

www.cardiffyouthservices.wales

Cardiff has made significant progress in embedding children's rights into the Council's strategies and the way in which our young people are supported and nurtured, which closely aligns with the city's ambition to becoming an internationally recognised Child Friendly City, as recommended by the UK Committee for UNICEF.

To find out more about Child Friendly Cardiff please visit:www.childfriendlycardiff.co.uk

#ChildFriendlyCDF

Microsoft Centre London hosts visit from Cardiff's young people

Ten young people from across Cardiff have been invited to the Microsoft Centre in London.

The group, aged 13-17, have been involved in developing the online services for Cardiff Youth Services and have taken part in coding and programming workshops arranged by the Cardiff Commitment.

During the experience the group learnt more about coding, Minecraft and the type of jobs within the industry. They also visited iconic London landmarks such as Buckingham Palace and Big Ben.

For many of the group, this was the first time they had visited London and for one it was the first time they had ever left Cardiff.

If you would like to find out more about the Cardiff Youth Services online service please visit:

www.cardiffyouthservices.wales

Cardiff Commitment is Cardiff Council's initiative that brings together the public, private and third sectors in partnership, with schools and education providers, to connect children and young people to the vast range of opportunities available in education, training and the world of work. For more info please visit:

www.cardiffcommitment.co.uk

Do you support a relative or friend to live well within the community?

Do you support a relative or friend to live well within the community? Are you unsure if you're able to get any help with your caring role? Would you be interested in improving services? If so, why not join the Unpaid Carers Impact Group to bring about positive change?

The Council's Ageing Well Strategy commits to working with unpaid carers to make them feel valued and ensure that their voices are heard. We are therefore launching a membership drive to establish an ‘Unpaid Carers Impact Group' to help to improve services and make a real difference to the unpaid carers and the people they look after. 

Unpaid carers and the challenges of caring should be recognised in all areas of life, caring should be valued and respected by everyone in our society, and carers should have access to the information and support they need, where and when they need it.  

If you are interested in taking part in the Unpaid Carers Impact Group or would like more information, please email:

agefriendly@cardiff.gov.uk