More Trees for Hainault Recreation Ground

On 16th November 2024, 150 volunteers (including just over 40 kids!) planted just over 2500 whips (small trees). Find out about the project and hear from our volunteers:

What is the London Tree Ring?

A group of organisations from the London Urban Forest Partnership, including Trees for Cities, are working together to increase woodland creation around the capital, including ambitions to form a Tree Ring around London. Acting like an M25 for nature, its goals are to link wooded areas so that wildlife can move between them, enrich the capital’s biodiversity, and provide community-friendly green spaces.

Two London Urban Forest Partners, Greenspace Information Greater London and CPRE London, have conducted mapping and done research to identify priority sites for woodland creation, which highlighted Hainault Recreation Ground as a key planting opportunity.

Beyond creating and connecting woodland, this project has seen communities come together with Trees for Cities. One community planting day volunteer shared: “What a brilliant way to get the family outdoors while doing something for the community! Lovely spending time with everyone.”

Tree equity explained

Beyond Hainault Recreation Ground’s ideal positioning for the London Tree Ring, it has been identified as an area of low tree equity, with an estimated canopy cover of just 8% according to Tree Equity Score UK, compared to the London average of 21%, and England average of 16%.

But what is tree equity, and why does it matter? Its aim is for all people to have equitable access to the benefits of trees, no matter their postcode. Areas of low tree equity with minimal tree cover are found disproportionality in urban areas, with the most deprived communities often hit the hardest. Without trees in towns and cities, we’re more susceptible to breathing polluted air, struggling with rising temperatures, and suffering with poor mental health and wellbeing.

Increasing Hainault’s tree cover over the years

We’re proud to be further adding to Hainault’s tree canopy cover, having also planted there in December 2019. This means that we’re adding to the age diversity of the existing trees, which is beneficial for biodiversity in terms of the range of habitat for wildlife provided. Our in-house design team have carefully selected the trees species to make sure they’re aligned with existing species in Hainault Forest while keeping climate-resilience top of mind.

Made possible by partners

Many thanks to our partners BUPA Foundation who support this project and the ambition of the London Tree Ring, alongside Redbridge Council and Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure.

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