Towards the London Tree Ring

CPRE London is working towards a vision – a ring of trees around the capital that will increase access to green spaces and mitigate the effects of climate change

We are in a climate crisis.  Around the world people are dying and having their homes and livelihoods threatened in climate- related disasters.  We are also in a nature crisis and the UK is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world.

There is now a clear and urgent need for bold action at a local level to pull all the levers available to us to change course and adapt to the shifts in climate already taking place. We all have a responsibility to cut our own emissions. There is also a pressing need to harness nature-based solutions at scale. And trees can help.

This is why we are leading a call for:

1. The creation of a continuous tree ring encircling the capital – by better protecting and managing existing wooded areas and connecting them up with new woodlands, orchards, hedgerow and ornamental trees. This will also link up a mosaic of other habitat – creating an orbital wildlife corridor. This is London’s biggest opportunity to support nature’s recovery, drive positive landscape transformation and help contain carbon-hungry, car-dependent urban sprawl.
2. Growing tree cover along key radial walking and cycling routes, connecting the city centre to London’s countryside – helping cut carbon emissions in a positive way by making active travel much more appealing.
3. Developing branches off greened radial routes that reach right into the city’s most green deprived neighbourhoods so everyone can easily access inviting green walks, bike journeys and London’s countryside – with all the physical and mental health benefits this brings.

Delivery mechanisms include encouraging authorities to align relevant strategies and plans with this vision, proactive landowner engagement and support, inspiring local community groups to get planting on priority sites and encouraging acquisition of land for sale on or near the line of connectivity to plant trees or rewild.

Learn more about progress so far here

Find out more about how you can get involved here