The mayor of London has launched a £1.5 woodland fund to help 21 boroughs plant new trees in parks, estates, playgrounds and other community spaces.

The fund will enable 40,000 new trees to be planted as part of a bid to increase London's tree canopy by 10% by 2050.

Mayor Sadiq Khan said: 'City Hall want our new woodland funding to help improve our Green Belt and I’ve written to all London boroughs asking them to nominate suitable sites. We are also delivering 40,000 new trees to brighten a range of local parks, buildings and green spaces.

'As we move towards making London the world’s first National Park City I’d encourage everyone to get involved in helping make our city greener and to take part in the mass tree planting this December.'

London boroughs and other public sector land owners will be able to bid for a share of the £1.5m woodland fund to create new large-scale woodland.