Our pledge to plant 50,000 trees by 2023 is really important, not just because more trees make for a more beautiful city, but because of what they can do towards our carbon neutral targets as well as helping to keep the city cool.

During the recent high temperatures, you may have noticed that cities and towns experienced higher air temperature than the surrounding countryside. This is because built-up and densely populated urban areas generate, trap and store heat to create localised warming. During the heat-waves this increase in urban temperatures can not only make people feel uncomfortable but for vulnerable groups such as children or the elderly, can cause exhaustion, respiratory illness and heat stroke.

As climate changes, it?s expected that in the UK heat-waves will happen more often, last longer and be more intense ? so it?s important that we take action now to reduce the intensity of the local warming. Healthy urban trees are known to have a cooling benefit, not only providing cool shade but also releasing water vapour, reflecting more solar radiation and storing less energy than many artificial surfaces such as concrete or tarmac.

With ambitious targets to plant 50,000 trees by 2023, the 2021/22 tree planting season saw Nottingham Green Guardians and partners plant over 10,000 trees across the city. Volunteering sessions have also included five Miyawaki-style forests in urban areas.? You can help do your bit later this year when we launch our second Big Tree Giveaway - details on how to register will be released in September.

It?s an expensive time of year as children head back to school and need new shoes and uniforms, especially as the cost-of-living crisis bites for many families. Here are some tips:

• Loan sharks sometimes target parents in parks and at the school gates ? be wary of anyone offering to loan you money who may pose as a friend. Notts and Lincs Credit Union are a better choice if you need to borrow money but are worried about your credit history ?
• The Uniform Project recycle school uniforms and give them out to parents free
• Nottingham City Council offers School Clothing Allowance for non-academy pupils who are in academic years reception, 1, 4, 7, 9, and 11 if you receive certain benefits (both for working and non-working people) Find out more

Nottingham Carnival returns this Sunday, 21 August, at the Victoria Embankment, with hundreds of participants in colourful costumes dancing along the 2.3km route of the parade which as ever forms the centrepiece of the event.

You can watch the parade for free from 2pm, while entry to the festival from 12pm is ?4 advance / ?5 on the gate / under 12s free. There will be four music stages entertaining the crowds with a wide variety of music, including headliners Winston Reedy & Band and Janet Kaye.

It?s always a wonderful event which showcases the colourful costumes, music and cuisine of Caribbean, Brazilian and African cultures that are alive in our city.?

Find out more here

There are other free events on offer this weekend. Stonebridge City Farm are staging the Nottingham Global Roots Festival and family fun day tomorrow, Saturday 20 August, with free entry, music, crafts, dancing and more. And St Ann?s Allotments have a free open day, also tomorrow with free activities.