National Tree Week is here, and once again we’re reminded that the trees around us are not just decorative additions to our streets and parks, they are essential infrastructure. They cool our cities, clean our air, support wildlife, protect us from flooding and make our urban spaces more liveable.
Tree Week began in the 1970s as a response to the mass loss of elm trees from Dutch Elm Disease. It started as a campaign encouraging communities across the UK to plant as many trees as possible to restore local environments. Today, the final week of November is celebrated each year as National Tree Week. It is the UK’s largest annual tree-planting celebration and aligns with the start of the tree planting season, which runs through to spring, ensuring new trees have the best chance to thrive.
And right now, their importance is clearer than ever.
Re-planted trees along Amhurst Road, Hackney
London Plan Policy G7: A city-scale commitment
According to the London Plan, Policy G7 aims to protect existing trees and increase the city’s tree canopy cover by 10% by 2050. As our cities expand and summers grow hotter, our street trees are under growing pressure. Trees reduce heat in our streets, improve air quality, provide habitats for wildlife, and support wellbeing in communities. This policy highlights the importance of tree planting, maintenance, and careful supervision to ensure a sustainable urban forest for future generations.
Urban trees play a key role in climate resilience, helping cities adapt to hotter summers, heavier rainfall, and rising air pollution. Every tree planted and maintained contributes to the strength and health of the UK's ecosystem.
Blackpool City Centre Tree Planters
UWE Mobility Hub Tree Planters
Derby City Centre Tree Planters
Doing our bit
At Meristem, we work across streetscapes, schools, community spaces, and the public realm to help our towns and cities grow a stronger, healthier urban forest. Inspired by the community spirit behind National Tree Week, we focus on planting and caring for trees in ways that bring people closer to nature and maximise the benefits of greenery.
Our projects combine climate-resilient planting, SuDS-integrated rain gardens, and thoughtful landscaping to create streets and public spaces that are cooler, more inviting, and better for wildlife. We also support existing trees by designing around them to ensure they continue to thrive.
From planting new trees to revitalising high streets and residential areas, our work helps communities enjoy the social and environmental benefits that trees provide. By taking practical action, we aim to contribute to the goal of London’s Policy G7 and the country’s wider tree canopy ambitions.
Follow along this National Tree Week
National Tree Week is the perfect time to celebrate the work being done to grow our green canopy. Throughout the week, we’ll be sharing insights and stories across our blogs and social media to explore the importance of trees and how we can support them to make our cities greener, healthier and more resilient.
