Trees For Cities

We are so grateful for the consistent support of the Span Trust, making the work we do possible.

For three decades, Trees for Cities has transformed urban communities, provided essential knowledge and skills to plant, protect and promote urban trees, and played a vital role in pioneering urban environmentalism for today's and future generations.

Collaborating with the Croydon Youth Assembly Transformation sub-group, who are dedicated to providing youth-led activities to improve the natural environment of Croydon, our Urban Forest team set to work on planting 44 standard trees throughout March. The playing fields are located within neighbourhoods that have as little as an estimated 9.8% canopy cover, significantly lower than the London average of 21%. This highlights the urgent need for green space intervention for the communities who are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

Engaging with the local community is central to our projects as we believe a core social benefit is to empower residents and support them to take direct action at their doorstep, deepening their sense of belonging to a community through the power of trees and plants. To support this, we ran two education workshops with local schools and a community planting day. Over 100 people from the local community and surrounding areas participated across these events, and it was fantastic to see people of all ages cultivating lasting environmental change to their green spaces.

We have begun our maintenance period for the planted trees, which will continue throughout the summer. I'm delighted to report that all 44 trees planted are thriving, with the leaves displaying the expected size and colour, and some showing additional extension growth! Our Urban Forest team will monitor the growth of the young trees, with watering maintenance completed every ten days.

Through the Ashburton Playing Fields project, in the London Borough of Croydon campaign, we will continue to bring the benefits of urban trees straight to the people who need them the most, cultivating lasting connections between urban communities and the nature around them. As we look towards planting our 2 millionth tree this season and publishing our new strategy in 2025, Trees for Cities is entering a dynamic period of growth.

The Span Trust are a long time supporter of Trees for Cities, and have historically pledged towards:

• Trees for Cities’ London Urban Forest programme in the London borough of Tower Hamlets
• Trees for Cities' Woodland Planting Project at Seven Kings Park in Redbridge
• Trees for Cities’ Planting Healthy Air in Schools Programme - across 12 of the most polluted schools in London