Trees are vital to our planet. They offer so many benefits to us as humans including improving air quality and helping our mental health, as well as to the planet by supporting wildlife, and combating climate change. Being out in nature is great for us but imagine if there were no trees around?
Something I have heard from several friends visiting the UK from abroad is how much they love the greenness of the UK. It is something I have always taken for granted and didn’t appreciate until I was older. Thankfully there are numerous UK-based organisations we can support dedicated to planting and protecting trees here. Some of these charities you may not have heard of before (I hadn’t until writing this) even though many have been around for decades!
Hopefully this guide I’ve pulled together will help answer what is the best tree planting charity for you (or your business) to support that aligns with your values. Together we can help towards a more sustainable future.
26 Tree Planting Charities UK
1. The Woodland Trust – Est. 1972
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity. They fight to protect trees, bring damaged ancient woods back to life, create quality native woods, and care for over 1,000 woods. If that’s not enough, they do some incredible work giving away hundreds of thousands of trees to schools and communities.
2. Trees for Cities – Est. 1993
Trees for Cities is a UK charity which aims to plant urban trees and create greener cities. They work with schools and local communities to cultivate lasting change in their neighbourhoods – whether it’s revitalising forgotten spaces, creating healthier environments or getting people excited about growing, foraging and eating healthy food.
3. The National Forest – Est. 1995
The National Forest is one of the boldest environmental initiatives in the country – transforming a post-industrial landscape by creating a forest across 200 square miles of the Midlands, linking the ancient remnant forests of Charnwood and Needwood. They are demonstrating how trees can be the catalyst for regeneration and inspire a positive future in the face of a changing climate.
4. The Tree Council – Est. 1973
The Tree Council wants to see thriving and diverse treescapes across the UK for years to come. Their Orchards for Schools programme offers schools free fruiting trees to plant and care for, and they have over 8,000 volunteer Tree Wardens, whose work has led to over 8 million trees being planted, with countless more being protected and cared for.
5. The National Trust – Est. 1895
The National Trust is a governing body that looks after a range of places across the UK, from historic houses, buildings and gardens to coast and countryside. An organisation known nationwide for centuries, their president is King Charles. There are several ways to support the charity, including buying membership for their sites, and planting trees.
6. Forest of Avon Trust – Est. 2008
Forest of Avon Trust runs tree planting, woodland wellbeing, and many other activities to bring the benefits of trees to people in Bristol, Bath and across the West of England. They’re currently delivering a multi million pound Defra-funded tree planting programme – Trees for Climate – to lock up extra carbon and help the nation to reach net zero carbon by 2050.
7. Trees for Life – Est. 1989
Trees for Life is a registered charity working to rewild the Scottish Highlands. The charity has returned red squirrels to forests in the North West Highlands where the animal had not lived for over 50 years, and it has sought to bring back beavers to rivers and lochs that are its natural home.
8. International Tree Foundation – Est. 1922
International Tree Foundation is a charity working with communities in the UK and Africa to plant trees and restore forests in places where they can make the fastest, most lasting impact for communities and the future of the planet.
9. The Conservation Volunteers – Est. 1959
The Conservation Volunteers bring people together to create, improve and care for green spaces. They connect people to the green spaces that form a vital part of any healthy, happy community – from local parks and community gardens to nature reserves and hospital grounds.
10. Size of Wales – Est. 2010
Size of Wales is a climate change charity working worldwide to grow trees and protect at least 2 million hectares of tropical forests – an area the size of Wales. They educate and inspire people in Wales to recognise the critical role Indigenous communities play in protecting the climate, biodiversity, and livelihoods.
11. Earthwatch Europe – Est. 1971
Earthwatch Europe connects people with nature through different programmes. Tiny Forest brings the benefits of woodlands into the heart of cities and urban spaces. Naturehood empowers communities to take positive action for wildlife in their local spaces. Next Generation seeks to embed outdoor learning and environmental sciences in school curriculums across the UK.
12. Protect Earth – Est. 2020
Protect Earth is a registered charity in England and Wales. They work with landowners, environmental and voluntary organisations, and the general public to access land, plant trees and monitor their development.
13. Friends of the Earth – Est. 1971
Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland is well placed to tackle the global environmental crisis. They are part of an international community covering 74 countries. The network encompasses around 5,000 local activist groups spanning every continent. They fight for climate justice through grassroots campaigns and legal action.
14. The John Muir Trust – Est. 1983
The John Muir Trust focuses on conserving, protecting and restoring wild places in Scotland. Some of the places they care for include Ben Nevis, Glenlude, Knoydart and Skye.
15. The Carbon Community – Est. 2020
The Carbon Community is dedicated to creating forests and accelerating carbon removal, with breakthrough science. Its planting and restoration projects are designed, in partnership with world leading scientists, to learn more about how to accelerate and enhance carbon sequestration.
16. Ashdown Forest Foundation – Est. 2019
The Ashdown Forest Foundation was set up to raise vital funds to help protect Ashdown Forest, one of the largest open access areas in Southeast England covering over 10 square miles. This forest is also the birthplace of the loved Winnie The Pooh.
17. The Northern Forest – Est. 2018
The Northern Forest has already established over 3 million new trees and is transforming the landscape from coast to coast and in and around cities such as Liverpool, Chester, Manchester, Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield, York and Hull.
18. Forestry England – Est. 1996
Forestry England have been growing, shaping and caring for over 1,500 of our nation’s forests for the benefit and enjoyment of all. They’ve built over 1,800 miles of walking, running and cycling trails, supply England’s largest amount of sustainably-sourced timber, and conserve thousands of plant and animal species.
19. Moor Trees – Est. 1999
Moor Trees is a Devon-based charity dedicated to recreating native woodland across Dartmoor and south Devon, and increasingly helping projects around the Tamar valley and beyond.
20. Birmingham TreePeople – Est. 2016
Birmingham TreePeople consists of knowledgeable professionals within the arboriculture industry, prepared to use their skills and expertise to plant, protect and promote trees and the urban forest.
21. City of Trees – Est. 2015
City of Trees is the community forest charity for the Greater Manchester area. They take a place-based approach, planting trees and transforming spaces where people live, work and unwind.
22. The Heart of England Forest – Est. 2003
The Heart of England Forest is helping to reverse centuries of woodland decline by creating and conserving a huge broadleaf forest for the benefit of the environment, wildlife and people. The forest covers over 7,000 acres of land in Warwickshire and Worcestershire.
Have you supported any of these charities before? Let me know in the comments!
Sophie is a freelance writer and editor, and the founder of Britain and Beyond.
