


Urban Forests

Trees transform the urban landscape,; they can improve the look of a road side, park or garden and allow us to connect with nature. In doing so they help reduce stress and improving our well being. Trees help keep the surrounding air clean and cool, reduce the risk of flood and provide a natural habitat for wildlife.

Breathing air within built up, polluted cities and towns exposes us to Particulate Matter (microscopic particles that can easily become trapped in the lungs). A recent study by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) reported that by 2050 Particulate Matter could claim an estimated 6.2 million lives. Trees can help mitigate these pollutants. A study of trees in 245 cities around the world showed that the average reduction of Particulate Matter surrounding a tree was between 7% to 24%. In addition, the study discovered that trees provided a cooling effect of up to 2C (3.6F).

A survey in 2014 calculated that London's trees provided some where in the region of £133 million of benefits every year in terms of air pollution removal.

It seems that trees play a vital role in ensuring our urban spaces are much cleaner than they would be without them. Unfortunately the same TNC report also highlighted the fact that the majority of cities featured in the study were removing more trees than they were planting, through continued urbanisation.

We covered a similar issue in an article back in June regarding the changing landscape of Britain’s front gardens and their decline, highlighting the alarming rate at which greenery is disappearing from our streets and neighbourhoods. The problem, it seems, is that the majority of cities the world over share the same approach with regards to trees and green spaces; namely they are regarded as serving an ornamental purpose only.

As shift in perception is called for; trees should be thought of as part of our public health infrastructure. Numerous studies have also shown that trees and green spaces in our towns and cities are essential for mental and physical health. Taken alongside the environmental benefits of trees, it becomes clear a well planned, targeted tree planting campaign is a smart investment for any city wishing to improve the all round health of it’s inhabitants.