Why Birmingham is planting trees where they are fewest

Birmingham is focusing new tree planting on the neighbourhoods with the fewest trees, as it tries to spread the benefits of the urban forest more fairly across the city.

The Urban Forest Master Plan

Birmingham TreePeople, a charity, commissioned an Urban Forest Master Plan for the city with Birmingham City Council, working with the consultancy Treeconomics and the Nature Based Solutions Institute. The plan sets out how the city's trees and green spaces should be developed and managed in the years to come.

Tree equity

Tree cover is not spread evenly across Birmingham. Leafy suburbs in the south, such as Edgbaston, Moseley and Harborne, have far more trees than many inner-city and east Birmingham neighbourhoods. The idea of tree equity is to plant more trees where they are most needed.

Birmingham TreePeople has worked with the council, the National Trust and the Woodland Trust to plant trees in areas including Nechells, Bromford and Hodge Hill.

Why trees matter

Trees cool streets during hot weather, which matters more as summers get hotter. They absorb rainwater, reducing the risk of flooding, and they can improve air quality, provide homes for wildlife and make neighbourhoods more pleasant places to live. Studies have also linked access to trees and green spaces with better mental health.

Planting season

Most trees are planted between November and March, when they are dormant. Young trees need watering and care for their first few years to survive, especially after dry summers like this one.

How you can help

• Volunteer at a community tree planting event this winter.
• Water young street trees near your home during dry spells.
• Plant a tree in your garden, choosing one suited to the space available.
• Report damaged or dangerous council trees to the council.

Protecting existing trees

Many of the city's oldest trees are protected by tree preservation orders, and anyone planning to cut down or prune a protected tree needs permission from the council.