David Amess, Member of Parliament for Southend West, and South East Essex Greenpeace planted an apple tree on Saturday 21st November at the Women's Environmental Network plot at the Manchester Drive allotments in Leigh.

The tree is twinned with a tree in the orchard on the Airplot – the plot of land that is in the middle of the site of the proposed third runway at Heathrow airport. Around 1825, Richard Cox created Cox's Orange Pippin while cross-pollinating trees in his garden, just a mile away from today's airport. The proposed third runway would destroy this historical land, displace an entire community, destroy trees and wildlife and seriously compromise the UK's commitment to averting climate change.

Spokesperson Sheena Walker said, ""By planting a tree in our local community, we are joining a growing resistance and showing that we care about climate change.""