Plant a tree

The Big Tree Plant

Bring a bit of nature into the heart of the city

You can get involved in tree-planting in your neighborhood in lots of different ways. You could volunteer at a tree-planting event, or plant a tree in your community space or garden.
Below are some ideas to get you started.

Join a local tree event

By joining in, you’ll be helping to improve your area while meeting new people, and getting some exercise.
Find out more about the opportunities to join in from The Tree Council website.
Many charities, local groups and volunteers are already busy planting and caring for trees.
  • Find a volunteering opportunity on the Tree Council websiteOpens new window
You can read about some of the great experiences other people have had on the ‘what’s going on’ page.
  • What's going on
You could also start your own tree-planting group. Have a look at the advice on the 'Join or start a tree-planting group' page of this website to see how you can do this.
  • Join or start a tree group

Plant a tree in your community space or garden

There are many places you can plant trees. You might belong to a club or community group that owns a bit of land where you could plant a few trees. Or you might be able to fit one or more into your garden.
Planting a tree attracts wildlife, creates an interesting feature, and can protect your house from the weather. It could even increase the value of your home.
Don't forget that different trees suit different locations. For help and advice on picking the right tree for your space, visit the 'Tree planting advice' page of this website, or the Woodland Trust website.
  • Tree planting advice
  • Woodland Trust’s Tree planting adviceOpens new window
  • Download the Woodland Trust's 'More Trees, More Good' tree-planting instructionsOpens new window
  • Help with PDF filesOpens new window

Get involved in planting street trees

Streets and public areas can be transformed by trees. They can soften the hard edges of the urban environment and bring a bit of nature into the heart of the city.

You can use the MyView tool to see how your street or neighbourhood might look with more trees

The Woodland Trust’s MyView tool can help you visualise how your street or neighbourhood could look with more trees.
  • Woodland Trust - MyViewOpens new window
If you want to get trees planted in your street, or on public land, you’ll need to talk to your local council. The tree planting may need to be done by qualified people.
In some areas you may be able to ask for trees from your council or council tree forum. Check your local council website to see whether a scheme operates in your area.
  • Find your local council
For detailed advice on getting street trees planted, have a look at Trees for Cities' best practice guide.
  • Trees for Cities - Best Practice GuideOpens new window
  • Trees for StreetsOpens new window
  • Street TreeOpens new window
    A small number of tree groups may also be able to help with street trees:
  • London Street TreesOpens new window
  • Manchester Green Streets (Red Rose Forest)Opens new window
  • Merseyside and Cheshire Green Streets (The Mersey Forest)Opens new window