FAQs
FAQs
- What is Trees for Cities?
- Where is Trees for Cities active?
- How can I get involved?
- Do you campaign to save trees that are under threat?
- How can my city be part of the Trees for Cities network?
- How can I get more trees in my area?
- What is the Million Trees Campaign?
- Where does my money go?
- Do you look after the trees?
- Are the trees you plant native?
- Do your trees get vandalised?
- In the UK, why do you only plant trees in the autumn-winter?
- How can I volunteer?
- Can anyone join the training programme in London?
What is Trees for Cities?
Trees for Cities is an independent charity undertaking tree planting and greening initiatives in urban areas of greatest need:
- We listen to what local people want from their green spaces. We run public consultation events in the heart of the community so that everyone is involved in having a say in what and how we plant.
- We teach in local schools to show the youngest members of the community the importance of making the most of their green spaces and caring for their environment.
- We train unemployed and socially excluded local people in horticulture and arboriculture so they can earn a professional qualification while improving their local environment for everyone.
- We campaign for urban tree planting and preservation, raising awareness within local government and the wider community.
- We plant new woodlands, street trees, community gardens and edible playgrounds creating green spaces for the whole community to enjoy as well as tackling climate change, improving air quality and providing habitats for urban wildlife.
Where is Trees for Cities active?
We currently have projects in the following UK cities: Brighton, Bristol, London, Leeds, Greater Manchester, Nottingham, Reading, and Sheffield; and internationally in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Ica, Peru; La Paz, Bolivia and Nairobi, Kenya.
How can I get involved?
There are various ways of getting involved with the work of Trees for Cities: by making a regular gift, volunteering at our planting days, events or in the office, or through your business.
Do you campaign to save trees that are under threat?
The charity only has limited resources to campaign for trees under threat and we have to choose very carefully what issues to get involved in. For information on protecting individual trees and stands of trees under threat, see Tree FAQs.
How can my city be part of the Trees for Cities network?
We are looking to create a network of partner organisations that share our vision of a greening renaissance in cities around the world. We are currently looking to work with partner organisations who are able, through practical work with local communities, to make this vision become a reality. Partners might be non-governmental organisations, city councils, or volunteer associations. Find out who we are already working with.
How can I get more trees in my area?
We receive numerous requests from the public to plant trees in their area and have developed a Project Proposal Form that helps us assess if we can undertake the suggested project or if it fits our project criteria. Download the form.
What is the Million Trees Campaign?
In June 2002, in association with the Evening Standard, we launched a campaign for another million trees to be planted in London by 2012.
Where does my money go?
Trees for Cities' fundraising and administration costs are about 8% of our total intake. The rest goes straight towards our direct charitable work. So, for every £1 donated, 92p goes into greening our cities and supporting local communities.
Do you look after the trees?
Yes – we usually agree a 3-year maintenance contract with the landowner which is the critical period for the survival of newly planted trees.
Are the trees you plant native?
Trees for Cities mostly plants native species (around 95%) but for some projects we choose exotic species to reflect the diverse communities where we are working.
Do your trees get vandalised?
We work hard to include the local community, particularly young people in our planting activities; and through this build a strong sense of local "ownership" which means incidences of vandalism are extremely rare.
In the UK, why do you only plant trees in the autumn-winter?
Autumn to spring is the best time to plant trees. Planting in Autumn allows the root system to establish while the ground is still warm and the trees are in a dormant state requiring fewer nutrients and less moisture. This means they will be able to survive hot, dry spells the following summer. Planting may be carried out in mild weather in the winter but not when the ground is frozen as the roots will not grow and can be frozen and killed.
How can I volunteer?
Trees for Cities runs an extensive volunteering scheme in both individual and corporate volunteering. See our volunteering pages.
Can anyone join the training programme in London?
See the Training pages for information on the courses we offer and how we allocate places.
