Trees for Cities facts for kids
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The organisation's headquarters at Prince Consort Lodge in Kennington, London SE11
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| Formation | 1993 |
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| Legal status | Non-profit company and registered charity |
| Purpose | Create greener cities |
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Region served
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UK, world |
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Chief Executive
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David J. Elliott |
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Main organ
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Board of Trustees |
| Website | www.treesforcities.org |
Trees for Cities is a charity in the UK that works to plant trees in cities and make urban areas greener. Since 1993, over 125,000 volunteers have helped them plant more than 1.2 million trees. These trees are in many places like parks, streets, schools, and even hospitals. The charity also has a cool program called Edible Playgrounds. It teaches kids in schools how to grow and eat healthy food.
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How Trees for Cities Started
Trees for Cities was started in 1993 by four friends: Jake Kempston, Belinda Winder, Jane Bruton, and Julian Blake. For the first few years, they raised money by holding popular parties.
The charity was first called Trees for London. Its main goal was to teach people about how important trees are. They also wanted to plant and protect trees everywhere, especially in busy city areas. In 2003, the charity changed its name to Trees for Cities. This was because they started working in more cities across the UK and around the world.
In 2016, David J. Elliott became the Chief Executive of the charity. The charity's main office is now in a historic building called Prince Consort Lodge. It is located in Kennington Park in London.
What Trees for Cities Does
Besides planting trees, the charity works with schools and community groups. They also run campaigns to help the environment.
Creating Urban Forests
Trees for Cities focuses on planting trees and making community spaces green. They do this in areas where trees can help people and the environment the most. Each year, they get volunteers to plant up to 100,000 trees worldwide. This helps make cities stronger against environmental problems.
Planting many different types of trees in cities has lots of benefits. Trees can make people feel better, both physically and mentally. They also clean the air by absorbing pollution. Trees can even help stop flooding and reduce noise. In 2019, the charity planted its one millionth tree!
Edible Playgrounds
Edible Playgrounds turn parts of school grounds into fun outdoor spaces. These spaces teach children about growing and eating healthy food. By learning healthy eating habits early, kids can fight problems like obesity. They also learn about where their food comes from and connect with nature.
These playgrounds also offer fun lessons that fit with school subjects. Research shows that 72% of schools said kids chose fruit more often. Also, 94% of schools said students had better attitudes about healthy living. Trees for Cities has built special edible gardens in 100 schools. These schools are in 12 different towns and cities.
Planting Healthy Air in Schools
This program helps deal with poor air quality in London. Bad air can harm people's health, especially children. Trees in London remove over 2,241 tons of pollution each year. This makes them great at blocking dirty air. The charity is working with St Paul's CE Primary School. This school was named the second most polluted school in London. Trees for Cities is planting trees and making the school grounds greener. This helps improve the environment and encourages students to use the outdoor space.
International Projects
The charity works with local groups around the world. Their tree planting projects aim to find lasting solutions for polluted cities. They also help local people learn skills to have sustainable ways of living. Since 2006, they have planted over 200,000 trees. These trees are in 16 cities across 13 countries. This includes places like Ica in Peru and Nairobi in Kenya.
How Trees for Cities Raises Money
Trees for Cities has many well-known supporters. These include Jamie Oliver, Jon Snow, and Richard Rogers. The charity used to hold an annual fun run called the Tree-athlon. It was a 5k race held in cities like Leeds, Manchester, and London. In 2010, they set a world record in Battersea Park. 278 people completed a 100m barefoot race on grass. The charity also sends out a monthly newsletter called Tree Times.
Where Trees for Cities Works
Trees for Cities has projects all over Greater London. They have also worked in over 30 towns and cities across the UK. Their global work has reached places like Ica in Peru, La Paz in Bolivia, Nairobi in Kenya, and Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.
See also
- The Big Tree Plant
- Plant A Tree In '73
- Great Trees of London, a list made by Trees for Cities after the Great Storm of 1987
