As National Tree Week shines a spotlight on the importance of trees, one question becomes clear: how can we bring more greenery and street trees into our busiest city streets? With limited space above and below ground, heavy pedestrian footfall, and constantly changing infrastructure, finding places to plant trees boosting urban canopy cover can feel impossible.
The average tree canopy cover in UK towns and cities is only 16%, leaving our streets grey, hard and uninviting. Urban trees aren't just decorative, the are essential to improving air quality, supporting biodiversity and enhancing wellbeing for local communities and passers-through.
Custom Tree planters with seating features, Blackpool
Why high streets struggle to host trees
High streets are dynamic, high-footfall environments. Traditional tree pits often aren’t feasible due to:
- Limited underground capacity and additional dense utility networks taking up space (gas, water and electric)
- Heavy pedestrian and high levels of vehicle activity
- Frequent layout changes for markets, events, or pop-ups
These challenges often result in trees being added as an afterthought, or not at all. High street greening requires solutions that work within these limitations rather than against them.
Saffron range Custom Planter, UWE Bristol
Saffron range Custom Planter, Hereford
Reconfigurable urban tree planters: A flexible solution
To combat the challenges of the urban environment, we have designed tree planters that fit seamlessly into our high streets, providing a place to rest, connect and boost urban canopy cover. Key features include:
- Movable units: can be reconfigured as street layouts change
- Integrated seating: encourages people to stop, rest and enjoy their green spaces
- Optimised soil depth: help trees thrive where traditional pits fail
- Enhanced biodiversity: encourages mini ecosystems across our streets
These planters not only support tree growth but bring additional greenery and biodiversity to the streetscape. Most importantly, bringing trees to our high streets also brings health and wellbeing benefits to the public.
Orchid Range custom tree planter with seating, Walton
Orchid Range custom tree planter with seating, Walton
How do our Tree Planters work?
To make urban tree planting more effective both socially and environmentally, our tree planters have been designed to include:
- Plant Support: Structural bases and a tailored soil mix ensure roots have room to grow even in shallow or constrained spaces.
- Water Management: Integrated drainage allows planters to manage rainwater capture.
- Flexibility: If desired, units can be moved to suit temporary events and changing layouts.
- Public Amenity: Built-in seating and adaptable design increase usability and improve street life.
Supporting public health and the built environment
Our tree planters expand canopy cover in even the most limited urban settings, creating habitat for birds, insects, and other aerial wildlife. By enriching biodiversity and softening our hard, grey streetscapes, they help reintroduce nature into dense city areas and support a more welcoming public realm.
Together, these modular planters demonstrate how our high streets can be reimagined as greener, more human-centered environments. Thoughtful design with green integration allow growing trees to benefit people and wildlife.
