Woodland Trust Calls for Tree Planting Funds in Urban Areas

Woodland Trust calls for £200 million dedicated urban tree funding

The Woodland Trust wants the UK government to set aside £200 million of its £1 billion tree planting budget specifically for urban areas. The charity says this targeted funding is necessary to tackle what it calls “urban tree deserts,” where communities have little or no access to woodland or green spaces.

The proposal represents a fifth of the total national tree planting budget. It aims to address a stark inequality in how nature access is distributed across England.

Most people in England live too far from woodland

Only 14% of people in England can walk to woodland within 500 metres of their home, according to the Woodland Trust. Across the UK as a whole, just 15.6% of the population lives within that distance of a wood covering at least two hectares.

Meanwhile, nearly three-quarters of England’s woodlands remain inaccessible to the public. Many ancient trees are also beyond reach for most communities.

The figures reveal a significant gap between where trees are planted and where people actually live. For urban residents in particular, this means missing out on the health benefits, cooling effects, and mental wellbeing that access to trees provides.

Research shows that urban residents in England and Wales live an average of 557 metres from their nearest park. Some 13% of people live more than 1,000 metres away from any green space at all.

Three proposals to increase urban tree access

The Woodland Trust has set out a detailed funding and policy framework in written evidence submitted to Parliament. The proposals focus on creating new woodland in areas that currently lack it, rather than simply expanding existing rural forests.

First, the charity proposes a Woods for People Fund worth £100 million. This would be used to buy land and create new, publicly owned woodland that is rich in wildlife. The fund would specifically target areas where access is currently limited or non-existent.

Second, the Trust wants England to adopt a new canopy cover target of 16%. This would be a long-term goal for native tree coverage. New housing developments would be required to meet a 30% minimum canopy cover as part of this target.

Third, and most significantly, the charity wants £200 million of the government’s £1 billion tree planting budget allocated specifically to urban areas. This represents 20% of the total budget. The funding would help remove financial barriers that currently prevent local authorities from planting trees in towns and cities.

Urban Tree Challenge Fund has closed to new applications

The case for dedicated urban funding has become more urgent following the closure of the government’s Urban Tree Challenge Fund. This programme previously covered 80% of the costs for large-scale tree planting projects in urban areas.

However, the fund is now closed to new applications. Consequently, local councils face a financial vacuum when it comes to urban tree projects. Many authorities are already under significant budget pressure and cannot afford to fund planting programmes from existing resources.

The Woodland Trust previously launched its own Emergency Tree Fund to help cash-strapped councils. That initiative distributed £2.9 million across 11 areas. Nevertheless, the charity says this temporary measure cannot replace the sustained government investment that urban areas need.

The situation is particularly acute because the UK government has set a target to plant 50 million more trees by 2025. The Trust warns this goal cannot be met without prioritizing urban equity alongside rural planting.

Why urban tree access matters for business and compliance

For businesses, the urban tree deficit has several practical implications. Companies with premises in low-canopy areas face higher cooling costs during summer months. Buildings surrounded by hard surfaces and minimal vegetation experience more extreme temperature fluctuations.

In addition, businesses tendering for public sector contracts increasingly face requirements related to environmental and social value. Demonstrating that your operations support local environmental quality can strengthen procurement bids. Companies located in areas with poor tree coverage may find it harder to evidence their contribution to community wellbeing.

Furthermore, corporate biodiversity commitments are becoming standard practice. Businesses looking to support nature-positive outcomes need to consider where their investments will have the greatest impact. Urban areas with minimal existing canopy offer opportunities for measurable improvement.

Planning regulations are also changing. The proposed 30% canopy cover requirement for new developments would affect property developers, construction firms, and businesses planning new facilities. Meeting this threshold will require early-stage planning and potentially higher land costs to accommodate green space.

Commercial property values are affected by local environmental quality as well. Offices and facilities in areas with good tree coverage typically command higher rents and better staff retention. Employees increasingly factor environmental quality into decisions about where they want to work.

There are supply chain considerations too. Businesses working with local authorities may find new opportunities as councils seek partners to deliver tree planting projects. Equally, companies that rely on council services or permissions may encounter new expectations around environmental contributions.

Essential facts about England’s woodland access gap

• Only 14% of people in England can walk to woodland within 500 metres of their home, creating significant inequality in nature access.
• The Woodland Trust wants £200 million of the government’s £1 billion tree planting budget allocated specifically to urban areas to address this imbalance.
• Nearly three-quarters of England’s woodlands are currently inaccessible to the public, despite the health and environmental benefits trees provide.
• The Urban Tree Challenge Fund, which previously covered 80% of urban planting costs, has closed to new applications, leaving councils without funding support.
• The charity proposes a new 16% canopy cover target for England, with a 30% minimum requirement for new housing developments.
• Urban residents in England and Wales live an average of 557 metres from their nearest park, with 13% living more than 1,000 metres from any green space.
• The UK government aims to plant 50 million more trees by 2025, but the Woodland Trust warns this target cannot be met without prioritizing urban equity.

What this means for environmental strategy and reporting

The shift towards equity-based planting creates new considerations for businesses developing environmental strategies. Previously, tree planting initiatives often focused on large rural sites where land was cheaper and planting was easier to scale. However, the emphasis is now moving towards where trees are most needed from a social and environmental justice perspective.

This matters particularly for companies reporting under environmental, social and governance frameworks. Supporting tree planting in urban areas with poor existing coverage delivers clearer social value than adding trees to already well-covered rural locations. Businesses can demonstrate more meaningful impact by focusing on areas identified as urban tree deserts.

For property and construction businesses, the proposed 30% canopy cover requirement for new developments represents a significant change. This would need to be factored into site selection, layout planning, and cost modeling. Developments in urban areas would need to incorporate substantially more green space than current standards require.

Local authorities are likely to introduce new policies to meet national canopy targets. Businesses operating in multiple locations should monitor how different councils implement these requirements. Some may introduce planning conditions or Section 106 agreements requiring developer contributions to urban tree planting.

The closure of the Urban Tree Challenge Fund also means businesses have fewer public funding sources to draw on for site improvements. Companies that previously accessed matched funding for tree planting around their premises will need alternative approaches. This could include partnerships with local authorities or direct investment funded through environmental budgets.

Practical implementation matters too. The Woodland Trust emphasizes that urban planting must use locally appropriate, diverse species rather than monoculture approaches. Businesses planning tree planting on their sites need specialist advice to ensure species selection suits local conditions and contributes to biodiversity rather than simply meeting a numbers target.

Our nature-positive investment support helps businesses identify where environmental spending delivers the greatest measurable impact, particularly for urban locations where baseline conditions are poor.

Planning considerations and retrofit challenges

Retrofitting trees into existing urban areas presents practical challenges that don’t apply to greenfield rural planting. Built environments have underground infrastructure including utilities, drainage systems, and building foundations that limit where trees can be planted. Root systems need adequate space without damaging pipes or structures.

Soil quality in urban areas is often poor. Compacted ground with low organic content doesn’t support healthy tree growth without significant preparation. Businesses with premises in urban areas need to assess whether existing outdoor space can accommodate trees without expensive groundwork.

Maintenance requirements differ as well. Urban trees need more intensive early care than rural planting. Watering during establishment, protection from vandalism, and management of leaf fall on paved areas all create ongoing costs. Companies considering tree planting on their sites should budget for at least three years of active maintenance.

The Woodland Trust’s proposals specifically mention raising urban canopy cover from its current 16% average. Achieving this will require planting in housing estates, business parks, and town centers where space is limited and land values are high. For businesses, this may mean reviewing how outdoor areas are currently used and whether space could be repurposed for planting.

There are regulatory angles too. Some businesses may find that improved tree coverage helps meet planning conditions or environmental permits. Others may face new requirements as local authorities adopt canopy cover policies. Understanding what’s coming allows for better planning and cost management.

Where to find detailed guidance and policy information

The Woodland Trust’s written evidence to Parliament provides the most detailed explanation of their funding proposals and policy recommendations. This document sets out the rationale for the £200 million urban allocation and explains how the Woods for People Fund would operate in practice.

For information about national tree planting targets and progress towards the 50 million trees goal, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs publishes regular updates. These reports show how planting is distributed geographically and which funding programmes are currently active.

Local authorities developing tree strategies often publish their own data on canopy cover and planting plans. Businesses operating in specific areas should check whether their local council has adopted canopy cover targets or planning policies related to urban greening. This information typically appears in local plan documents or climate action strategies.

The environmental compliance support we provide includes helping businesses understand how local environmental policies affect their operations and what steps are needed to meet new requirements as they emerge.