Our impact

We manage a national force of volunteer Tree Wardens who champion their local trees. They organise activities, fundraise, research and advise on trees and related topics. There are currently over 6000 of Tree Wardens volunteering in networks across the country. Their amazing work has led to over 8 million trees being planted, with countless more being protected and cared for.

Hundreds of schools have signed up to become Young Tree Champion schools, setting up their own outdoor projects supported by a range of resources such as tech kits, learning materials, speaking training and of course, trees! Working in partnership with M&G plc, we are continuing to expand this programme, bringing thousands of students closer to nature.

The Orchards for Schools programme offers schools free fruiting trees to plant and care for. In just two years, more than 1600 schools have planted over 33,000 trees on their grounds and we are on course to plant 100,000 trees by the end of 2022.

Our Science and Research team works with government departments and agencies, local authorities, volunteer organisations, and leading researchers across the country to understand how best to protect our treescapes. We have published evidence-led toolkits to help land managers respond effectively to the devastating impact of Ash Dieback, with similar guidance being developed for Oak Processionary Moth.

The Close the Gap programme is achieving healthier and better-connected hedgerows through planting, knowledge sharing, increasing hedgerow tree supply and public engagement. In May 2021, we ran the UK’s first ever National Hedgerow Week to celebrate their amazing contribution to our lives and environment.

The relationship between Network Rail and The Tree Council has gone from strength to strength over the past 20 years, developing from a campaign partnership to becoming a critical friend and advisor on vegetation management.

We work to coordinate and connect organisations to persuade decision-makers, influence national policy and deliver local action around our treescape. Our aim is to bring people together in a shared mission to plant, care for and protect trees.

We are examining tree and hedge planting and establishment through on-the-ground research, in partnership with five local authorities, Natural England and DEFRA. The findings will inform government policy and grant schemes and is already helping us understand the importance of developing outcome driven flexible grant schemes