Trees for Cities

{{Infobox organization

|name = Trees for Cities

|image = KP-Alberts-Cottage2.jpg

|caption = The organisation's headquarters at Prince Consort Lodge in Kennington, London SE11

|size = 150px

|logo = TFC Logo Small Dark-Green.jpg

|logo_size =

|abbreviation =

|motto =

|formation = 1993

|extinction =

|status = Non-profit company and registered charity

|purpose = Create greener cities

|location =

|region_served = UK, world

|membership =

|leader_title = Chief Executive

|leader_name = David J. Elliott

|main_organ = Board of Trustees

|parent_organization =

|affiliations =

|budget =

|website = [http://www.treesforcities.org www.treesforcities.org]

|remarks =

}}

Trees for Cities is a UK charity which aims to plant urban trees and create greener cities.{{Cite web|url=https://treesforcities.org/about-us/|title=Trees for Cities: About us|last=|first=|date=14 March 2018|website=|access-date=}} Since 1993, the organisation has reported that, with the help of volunteers, they have planted over 1,800,000 urban trees in parks, streets, woodlands, schools, hospitals and housing estates. The charity also runs the Edible Playgrounds programme,{{Cite web|url=https://treesforcities.org/our-work/edible-playgrounds/|title=Trees for Cities: Edible Playgrounds|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=}} which aims to inspire school children to grow and eat healthy food.

History

Trees for Cities was founded in 1993 by a group of four friends: Jake Kempston, Belinda Winder, Jane Bruton and Julian Blake. For the first five or so years, the charity raised funds through its well-known parties. The charity was initially called Trees for London[http://treesforcities.org/page.php?id=50 Trees for Cities: History and mission] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621051144/http://www.treesforcities.org/page.php?id=50 |date=21 June 2010 }} with the charitable objectives to "advance the education of the public in the appreciation of trees and their amenity value, and in furtherance of this the planting and protection of trees everywhere, and in particular inner city areas". In 2003, the charity changed its name to Trees for Cities to reflect a growth in activities in cities across the UK and across the globe.

In 2009, Sharon Johnson replaced Graham Simmonds as Chief Executive. She was succeeded as Chief Executive by David J. Elliott in 2016, who was then succeeded by Kate Sheldon in 2023.[http://www.viridien.co.uk/who-we-are/ Who we are, Viridien Ltd] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323031554/http://www.viridien.co.uk/who-we-are/ |date=23 March 2012 }}

The charity has a history of unusual office locations. Originally based on HMS Belfast,{{cite news|author=Jeanette Winterson|author-link = Jeanette Winterson|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2000/mar/29/guardiansocietysupplement9|title= Soul Purpose|work=The Guardian| date=29 March 2000|access-date = 18 January 2020}} the charity now operates from Prince Consort Lodge, a Grade II listed building located in Kennington Park, Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth, England. It also has offices in Whitacre Mews, Kennington, London.

Function

In addition to tree planting, the charity is involved in activities with schools and community groups and undertakes campaigning.

= Urban Forests =

Trees for Cities' work focuses on planting trees and greening community spaces where the social and environmental impact on local people is greatest. By engaging volunteers and planting up to 100,000 urban trees worldwide each year, the organisation is building resilience against threats facing the natural environment. Planting a range of tree species in urban areas have multiple impacts and benefits to people and the environment such as improving physical and mental wellbeing, absorbing air pollutants, sequestering carbon, masking noise, preventing flooding etc.

The charity planted its millionth urban tree in 2019.{{Cite web |date=2019-04-08 |title=A million trees planted - what next? |url=https://theecologist.org/2019/apr/08/million-trees-planted-what-next |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=theecologist.org |language=en}}

In 2018, it played an active role in the campaign to stop the felling of Sheffield's street trees.{{Cite news |date=2017-10-20 |title=Sheffield's Vernon Oak: Charity rescue bid to save tree felling |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-41694760 |access-date=2024-06-07 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

= Edible Playgrounds =

Edible Playgrounds transform areas in school grounds into vibrant outdoor spaces that excite and teach children about growing and eating healthy food. By instilling healthy eating habits at an early age, Edible Playgrounds can help to tackle obesity, food poverty and lack of access to nature head on, as well as providing a platform for fun and engaging lessons that support the school curriculum. Independent research among participating schools shows that 72% of schools said that children were more likely to choose fruits over less healthy snacks while 94% of schools said that pupils had improved attitudes towards healthy living.{{Cite web|url=http://edibleplaygrounds.org/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202091900/http://www.edibleplaygrounds.org/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=2 February 2016|title=Edible Playgrounds|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=}} Trees for Cities has worked with 100 schools in 12 towns and cities to build bespoke edible gardens over the past 10 years.{{Cite news |last=Mohdin |first=Aamna |date=2019-12-15 |title=How to help children go green … make their playgrounds edible |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/dec/15/guardian-and-observer-charity-appeal-2019-edible-playgrounds |access-date=2024-06-07 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

= Planting Healthy Air in Schools =

Planting Healthy Air in Schools has been developed to address London's poor air quality and the detrimental health effects this has on people, especially children. London's trees remove 2,241 tons of pollution per year,{{Cite web|date=2015-11-24|title=London's pollution-busting trees valued at £6.1 billion in new survey|url=https://www.london.gov.uk//press-releases/mayoral/londons-pollution-busting-trees-valued-at-61bn|access-date=2021-09-23|website=London City Hall|language=en-GB}} making them a particularly effective barrier to the flow of toxic air. The charity is currently working in partnership with St Paul's CE Primary, named the second most polluted school in London, to enrich the grounds through tree planting and greening in order to enhance the natural environment and promote the use of the outdoor space for pupils.

= International =

The charity works with local organisations and community groups around the world to focus their tree planting projects on delivering long-term, practical solutions to green polluted city environments and provide local people with the skills and ability to secure sustainable livelihoods. Since 2006 they have planted over 200,000 trees in 16 cities in 13 countries – from Ica in Peru to Nairobi in Kenya and Pokhara in Nepal.

Fundraising

Trees for Cities has a number of high-profile patrons, including Jamie Oliver, Jon Snow and Richard Rogers. The charity was responsible for the Tree-athlon, a 5k annual fun run,[http://www.westyorkshiresport.co.uk/news-events/change4life/leeds-tree-athlon-2009-september-27/ Leeds Tree-Athlon 2009 – 27 September – West Yorkshire Sport, retrieved on 24 January 2011] held in Leeds, Manchester and London. In Battersea Park on 18 September 2010, it set the world record for the largest ever barefoot race, with 278 participants completing a 100m grass circuit.[http://www.wandsworthguardian.co.uk/news/8403204.Barefoot_runners_go_for_world_record/ Barefoot runners go for world record – Wandsworth Guardian retrieved on 24 January 2011] The charity sends out a monthly newsletter to its followers, titled Tree Times.

Projects

Trees for Cities has projects throughout Greater London, and has delivered projects in over 40 towns and cities across the UK. The charity's global reach has extended to Ica in Peru, La Paz in Bolivia, Nairobi in Kenya and Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.treesforcities.org/our-work/international|title = International|date = 18 May 2018}}