We want to increase the city’s ‘urban forest’, which includes all the trees in the city. Cambridge currently has 17% tree canopy cover – we are working to increase this to 19%.

We manage, maintain and protect more than 32,000 trees in the city’s streets and open spaces, and are planting more. But about 75% of the area of the city is privately owned, including about 40,000 household gardens.

So we need you, the residents of Cambridge, to help us plant more trees.

Planting a tree in your garden will make a positive contribution to combating climate change. It will provide a habitat for pollinating insects and other wildlife and support greater biodiversity.

If you don’t have space yourself, you could give one as a gift to a friend or family member. If you’re a new parent we’ll give you a free tree as part of our free trees for babies scheme.

Choose a tree

There are tree varieties that will suit most gardens. Think about where you would like to plant your new tree, how much room you have and the size the tree will grow to.

Try to find a space where your new tree can grow to its fullest without needing regular pruning. Try to avoid planting it where it could become a nuisance in the future.

The Royal Horticultural Society can help you choose trees for smaller gardens and trees near buildings.

When you have chosen, check our planting guide [PDF, 0.1MB] and advice about watering new trees.