Our work

Urban Trees



Trees bring real benefits to our cities, health and wellbeing.

Garden Fork

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.

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2241 tonnes

Each year London’s trees remove 2,241 tonnes of air pollution, including carbon dioxide, dust and other gaseous toxins.

Tree Cities of the World

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
aerial view of Hartlepool, featuring rows of houses and the coastline

Tree Equity for Hartlepool

Trees for Cities has partnered with National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Linbury Trust, Hartlepool Borough Council, Thirteen Group, The Woodland Trust, Tees Community Forest and Treeconomics to deliver a two-year programme of tree planting and engagement activities to help grow Hartlepool's urban forest.

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Tree Establishment: Helping Urban Trees Thrive

Tree Establishment: Helping Urban Trees Thrive

Since our inception in 1993, we have planted 2 million trees in 100 urban areas across the UK and overseas. We are proud to showcase our efforts to establish, maintain, and care for our urban trees.

Learn how we do this
Forgotten Places: Greening Coastal Towns and Cities

Forgotten Places: Greening Coastal Towns and Cities

Our tree planting initiative focusing on coastal towns and cities helped establish 55,000 trees across 83 locations in 7 areas across the UK.

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Trees for Climate Action

Trees for Climate Action

We brought people together across generations in Bradford and the Glasgow region through tree planting, training, and volunteering to learn vital skills to tackle the climate crisis. Over 30,000 people were engaged with through the project.

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People standing in a field doing yoga exercises on the grass

Collective Climate Repair

We’re working with groups from underrepresented communities, co-hosting workshops where participants learn about the water cycle, tree care, and how biodiversity can cool our towns and cities. 

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Check out some of our projects