Over 84% of UK residents live in towns and cities, where trees are often scarce in comparison to more rural areas. With cities and their increasing populations more exposed to hotter temperatures and air pollution, trees act as nature-based solution to help mitigate these effects. Empowering residents to take action, the Trees for Streets scheme makes it easier for people to sponsor new street tree planting in their neighbourhoods.
Environmental charity Trees for Cities has partnered with Glasgow City Council to launch the Trees for Streets scheme, to support plans to increase Glasgow’s tree canopy. The scheme is already available in 20 councils in England, and is expanding to Scotland in a bid to enable healthier, greener cities UK-wide. With £85,000 of penalty charge income from Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone part-funding the pilot scheme, it is now more attainable to become a tree sponsor in Glasgow and help turn its urban areas into leafier, more vibrant places.
The innovative Trees for Streets online platform is user-friendly, enabling potential sponsors to drop a pin onto a map to indicate where in their neighbourhood they would like their new street tree to be planted.
Glasgow City Council will then assess the suggested planting location, looking at factors such as pavement width, existing street furniture and whether there are any utilities close by.
Trees for Streets also support community crowdfunding schemes and are happy to speak with local businesses and organisations who want to sponsor a tree or have bigger ideas about greening local streets.
Cllr Angus Millar, City Convener for Climate, believes that the pilot sponsorship scheme will empower and inspire people to bring nature to their doorstep and help mitigate the effects of climate change.
Cllr Millar said:
“Tree planting is an ongoing priority for the council and this partnership with Trees for Streets will complement our wider greening programme across Glasgow. By sponsoring a street tree, you’ll be helping to create greener neighbourhoods and play a part in the city’s response to the climate crisis.
“Using the Trees for Streets’ interactive map, residents can choose to sponsor a new street tree near their home or in the wider neighbourhood. We also welcome sponsorship from businesses who are looking to create a lasting impact in their local communities. Support is also available from Trees for Streets to organise a crowdfunding campaign to green an entire street.
“Sponsoring a street tree is a great way to make our neighbourhoods greener, more pleasant places to live and can create a real sense of neighbourhood connection. I would urge residents and businesses to look at this new scheme and consider planting a tree in a place that’s important to them.
“We also know that more trees can help mitigate weather extremes by absorbing pollution and capturing carbon, as well as providing shelter and habitats for birds, pollinators and other wildlife.
“This latest venture continues to ensure that penalties collected through the city's Low Emission Zone are poured back into local communities. Combined with £732,000 already committed to community-led environment projects and a further £165,000 to green the city centre with tree planters, almost £1million of LEZ income is being invested into Glasgow, meaning we can deliver both cleaner air and greener streets in the city centre and beyond."
Cllr Angus Millar, City Convener for Climate
Carrie Hume, Project Director, Trees for Streets said:
“Trees breathe life into streets. They simply transform neighbourhoods, making places more beautiful whilst helping people shelter from the sun and have real connections with nature on their doorstep.
“We are pleased to be working with Glasgow City Council supported by funds from the LEZ scheme to bring the national street tree sponsorship scheme into the streets of Glasgow and so aid their ambition for more trees across Glasgow. We look forward to empowering communities and businesses to bring about new investment in their streets.”
The Trees for Streets sponsorship scheme in Glasgow aims to boost tree planting in local neighbourhoods and will complement ongoing activity in the city centre which has its own street greening programme.
The Trees for Streets scheme was co-founded by civic innovator Start with Local and national UK charity, Trees for Cities. It aims to plant more than 250,000 street trees nationwide over the next ten years by hosting online tree sponsorship schemes on behalf of councils. It is funded by the People’s Postcode Lottery, the Green Recovery Challenge Fund, and City Bridge Trust.
You can find out more about how the tree planting sponsorship scheme works by visiting www.treesforstreets.org.