Let’s line our streets with trees: New partnership to boost tree planting and biodiversity

Residents, businesses and community groups now have the power to bring more green to their streets. Trees for Streets enables residents to sponsor a street or park tree via the project’s website. Neighbours can even club together to fill their streets with trees via a crowdfunding platform, and businesses can sponsor the planting of new trees as a way to give back to their community.

This scheme supports Wandsworth’s ambition to boost biodiversity, strengthen habitats and ensure every neighbourhood benefits from greener, healthier streets. This initiative is building on progress we’ve already made, including record improvements in air quality and our existing tree planting programme of 1,000 new trees every year. 

Trees sponsored through this scheme will complement our tree planting efforts. When sponsoring a tree, you can suggest locations for planting which will be considered in conjunction with climate risk mapping to support areas of the borough and communities that will face the greatest impact of climate change. 

Councillor Paul White, Cabinet Member for Environment, said:

“Planting trees is an important part of strengthening biodiversity in Wandsworth, making a happier, healthier borough. Every sponsored tree helps create healthier habitats, supports local wildlife, provides shade in increasingly warm summers and helps soak up excess rainwater during wetter winters, and brings more nature into our streets and neighbourhoods. 

“By taking part in the Trees for Streets scheme, residents, community groups, and local businesses can play a real role in making Wandsworth greener and more biodiverse for the future. If you’re able to, please consider sponsoring a tree or group together in your community to sponsor one. Even help spreading the word will mean together we can all enjoy the nature Wandsworth has to offer.” 

Sponsor a tree in three simple steps 

Visit the Trees for Streets website to choose a location for a new tree, answer a few simple questions about it, and submit your sponsorship details. The rest is taken care of for you. 

Our trees team will survey the location to check for suitability. It may not always be possible to plant in the exact location because of utilities underground, the footpath width, or other factors. 

Once confirmed, a young tree will be planted in the following planting season, between November and April. 

Why are trees so important? 

Urban trees play a vital role in helping Wandsworth respond to climate change, by helping cool our streets during heatwaves, help manage heavy rainfall, and reduce the risk of flooding. Trees also improve air quality, support local wildlife and boost biodiversity by creating habitats and nature corridors across our borough. 

Sponsor a tree button 

Trees for Streets works in partnership with Wandsworth Council to get the trees planted. Trees for Streets was co-founded by the national charity Trees for Cities and civic innovator Start with Local.