Let's green the tree deserts!

A tree desert (left) contrasting with a tree-rich neighbourhood (right), a disparity still common across the UK. 
(Image Credit: James Reader/WTML) 

Across the UK, more than 11 million people are living in tree deserts - areas of critically low tree cover. 

Living without trees has real consequences for people’s health. Neighbourhoods with low tree cover are often hotter and more polluted. The Royal College of Physicians estimates that air pollution contributes to up to 43,000 deaths each year.  
And as our weather becomes more extreme and unpredictable, tree-deprived communities are also left ever more vulnerable to lethal heatwaves, flooding, and drought. 

This isn't a random issue. Per person, the most underserviced neighbourhoods have less than half of the tree cover present in the most affluent neighbourhoods. It’s a silent injustice. And it leaves communities already facing greater social and environmental challenges without access to the vital benefits of trees. Now, we have a chance to fix that. 

Releasing later this year, Government’s England Tree Action Plan will set out how it will spend the £1 billion budget allocated for woods and trees for 2026-2030. We want it to commit to spending 20% of this budget - £200 million - where it's needed most.  

The UK Tree Equity Score tool identifies communities with low tree cover and higher levels of need. It should be used to allocate the budget in an evidence-led way. 

We're asking Government to:  

1. Maintain the baseline - actively protect and restore the woods and trees that do exist in tree-deprived areas.  

2. Green the tree deserts - use the UK Tree Equity Score, and work with other governmental departments, to prioritise planting in areas with the lowest tree cover and deliver robust aftercare to ensure the new trees thrive. 

3. Work with the experts - collaborate with a partnership of tree experts and stakeholders, including the Woodland Trust, to embed the UK Tree Equity Score in existing and future urban tree schemes. 

We're not asking for more money. We simply want to see the money that's already been allocated spent in a targeted, evidenced-based, expert-led way which delivers maximum impact for those who need trees most. 

Tree deserts are an injustice.
Send your email today and press Government to plant trees where they're needed most.

References and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • I don’t live in England, should I take part? 

    Yes, anyone in the UK can take part in the campaign. 

    The England Tree Action Plan only applies in England, but everyone in the UK has an MP with a say on this. Raising this topic with your MP will build awareness of tree deserts and the need for action across the four nations of the UK. 
     

  • I don’t live in a low tree cover area - should I still take part? 

    Yes. 

    This campaign is about fairness and improving access for everyone, especially communities that currently receive fewer benefits from trees. 
     

  • Why are you specifying 20% of the funding? 

    20% (£200 million) is a realistic and impactful proportion of the existing funding that could make a significant difference to underserved urban areas - without requiring new government spending.  

    Government has also committed to increasing UK tree cover from 14.5% to 16.5% by 2050 – that’s 260,000 hectares of new planting. Research we commissioned shows that to ensure meeting this target benefits everyone equally, 20% of tree planting should take place in urban areas.  

    Allocating 20% of the budget to the urban areas which need trees most will also help meet the UK tree cover target.   
     

  • What data are you referencing regarding the benefits of urban trees? 

    This campaign is supported by evidence from our recent report on tree equity.  

    It also refers to findings from the ‘Parks, pride and place’ report by More in Common.  
     

  • What is the Woodland Trust doing on this issue? 

    We believe everyone should have fair access to the benefits that trees bring, no matter where they live. 

    We have a vision of ‘Trees for All’ and we want to make sure trees contribute to: 

    - healthier communities with cleaner air, cooler streets and better wellbeing 
    - fairer access to green space, especially in underserved urban areas 
    - stronger resilience to climate impacts like heatwaves and flooding. 

    We want to tackle inequality in access to nature by putting trees where they can make the biggest difference for people and communities.  To achieve this, we are: 

    - advocating for stronger tree policy through the ETAP 
    - working with governments, experts, and stakeholders across the UK 
    - delivering projects in all four countries of the UK to increase tree cover and address inequality on the ground  
    - providing free trees for schools and community groups, particularly encouraging applications from areas with fewer trees 

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Tell your MP to spend 20% where it's needed most.  

Over 11 million people in the UK live in chronically tree-deprived areas, or 'tree deserts'. This exposes underserved communities to a range of serious challenges and exacerbates those they already face. We cannot allow this injustice to stand.  

The England Tree Action Plan could drive real change, but only if 20% of the budget is allocated specifically to the areas which need trees the most. Together, we can ensure that no community is left behind. 

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