Our work
Urban Trees
Trees bring real benefits to our cities, health and wellbeing.
The effects of climate change are already being felt. We’re experiencing warmer, wetter winters, and hotter, drier summers, creating higher temperatures in our cities. Climate change has caused an increase in pests and disease, which had never previously affected the UK. The impact has been an unprecedented threat to some iconic tree species, including ash, horse chestnut and oak.
With 80% of the population living in towns or cities, many people now breathe dirty air, are at risk of flooding and are struggling with rising temperatures worsened by the urban heat island effect. Without urban trees, our physical and mental health are all affected, and our connection with nature becomes lost. This trend needs to reverse now!
By planting thousands of urban trees each year in the UK and around the world, Trees for Cities is building resilience within urban communities against threats facing the natural environment. We plant a range of tree species that enhance structural and functional diversity in woodlands and city streets, creating greener, happier and healthier places to live.
2400000 tonnes
Each year London’s trees remove 2.4 million tonnes of air pollution, including carbon dioxide, dust and other gaseous toxins.
Tree cities of the world
We're proud to lead the Tree Cities of the World initiative in the UK, connecting UK cities worldwide through a network dedicated to sharing how we all manage urban trees and forests to make cities greener and more robust.
Join the network
Forgotten Places: Greening Coastal Towns and Cities
Our new tree planting initiative Forgotten Places: Greening Coastal Towns and Cities will pave the way for a green revolution in coastal towns and cities.
Find out more
Trees for Climate Action
We are actively engaging people under 30 in Bradford and the Glasgow region in tree planting, training and volunteering so that they can learn vital skills to tackle the climate crisis. Up to 20,000 people will have the chance to get involved through to September 2025.
Trees Breathe Life
Trees Breathe Life is our new campaign promoting the transformational impact urban trees bring to us all, and how they can 'Breathe New Life' into urban communities!
GET INVOLVEDCHECK OUT SOME OF OUR PROJECTS
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Legacy tree planting
Seven Kings Park, London50 bright and beautiful new big trees have brought new habitats for wildlife in Seven Kings Park and restored the traditional tree lined avenues to their former glory.
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One Hull of a Forest
Alderman Cogan School, HullFind out how we planted 3,750 trees in Hull for the PATT foundation's campaign 'One Hull of a Forest'.
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Community orchard
New Beckton Park, LondonThe new community orchard at New Beckton Park provides a local resource for wildlife, education and most importantly – an annual harvest of fruits and nuts!
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Airedale Food Forest
Airedale General Hospital, KeighleyWe planted 2,650 trees for the 50th anniversary of the opening of Airedale Hospital in Keighley.
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Urban woodland
Forest Road recreation Ground, LondonWe’ve created a vast new woodland in northeast London where the Great Forest of Essex once grew.
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Racecourse estate
Northolt, Ealing, LondonA new urban woodland in a historical racecourse-turned-housing estate.
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Wildlife hedgerow
Montagu recreation ground, LondonA beautiful new hedgerow at Montagu Recreation Ground is making the air cleaner for the local community to enjoy the park.
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Horticultural Therapy Garden
Maudsley Hospital, South LondonFind out how we transformed the outdoor spaces at the Maudsley Hospital into a beautiful new public garden, designed to improve community wellbeing.
We'd like to hear from you!
Are you a local authority, CIC, charity or responsible for managing land in urban and peri-urban areas, preferably outside London? Trees for Cities are looking to support organisations' small to medium size planting schemes. Get in touch!