Tree Equity for Hartlepool

Trees are a core component of nature in cities, but in many coastal places the tree canopy cover is as low as 2%. This matters, because it means that disadvantaged communities are left without the many health and well-being benefits that trees provide. We call this environmental injustice 'tree inequity'.

Hartlepool currently has one of the lowest Local Authority Tree Equity scores in the country. We're proud to be leading on Tree Equity for Hartlepool project, which is part-funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund with a grant of £250,000, who are supporting the first two years of work in a much bigger journey to tackle Hartlepool's low tree canopy cover.

King George V Playing Fields 100425 Julian Heward 01
Trees for Cities and Hartlepool Borough Council members planting in Hartlepool in 2025

15%

is the minimum recommendation of tree canopy cover for coastal areas (Forest Research)

Increasing tree cover helps to reduce the harmful effects of environmental health hazards such as increased temperatures that can exacerbate existing health conditions, and air pollution, which can cause chronic conditions such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. UK neighbourhoods that are most deprived of income have less than half the tree cover per person and over 20% more air pollution than the least deprived neighbourhoods.

A UK-first

Tree Equity for Hartlepool will be a UK-first in using the Tree Equity tool comprehensively and town-wide, to form rigorous plans for change for residents where trees are needed most.

The project is running between February 2025 to May 2027, advocating for urban trees, developing strategic documents, and increasing canopy cover through tree planting with the community, to begin a journey towards a more healthy, sustainable and equitable urban forest for Hartlepool. 

We’re delighted to be part of the Tree Equity for Hartlepool project as we currently have very low tree cover in the borough. Trees are not only important for wildlife; it’s a well-known fact that people who live with trees around them enjoy a better quality of life. Over the next two years there will be lots of tree planting opportunities for local people of all ages to get involved in, and we’re looking forward to that so much.

Councillor Gary Allen, Chair of Hartlepool Borough Council’s Adult and Community-Based Services Committee

Powered by partners and people

A multi-partner project led by Trees for Cities, Tree Equity for Hartlepool will create two staff roles locally who will work across planting, engagement and awareness raising of the urban forest.

Working with Hartlepool Borough Council, Trees on Tees Community Forest, The Woodland Trust, Thirteen Group and Treeconomics, this partnership brings together major local landowners alongside national tree specialists to deliver a quality programme of work.

Coastal greening expertise

We've got a track record in greening coastal towns; our Forgotten Places project in 2021-23 saw just under 70,000 trees planted across seven coastal towns with high levels of socio-environmental deprivation. 

It also created urban forestry jobs and training opportunities and created Tree Planting Guidance for Coastal Authorities, which is freely available to councils to support their urban forestry programmes, alongside a Bexhill Tree Planting Strategy, produced in collaboration with Treeconomics.

Stay Informed

Be the first to hear about community planting days in Hartlepool during planting season (between October to April) by signing up to our volunteer mailing list. We'll also share the latest project updates, fascinating facts and inspirational stories, plus a number of fundraising opportunities.   

Further reading