Get started with tree planting
Did you know, a single mature oak tree can absorb an average of 227kg of carbon each year? That’s the equivalent to a car driving 25,000 miles!
By getting involved in tree planting efforts this year, you’ll make a real difference to the UK’s carbon emissions. But that’s not the only reason to plant trees - we reckon you’ll love it (everyone does).
Jump to: [volunteering opportunities] [our guide to planting trees in your local area] [advice for buying and planting your tree] [other ways to support tree planting]
Finding volunteer opportunities with existing projects
Here are our four favourite sites to find volunteering opportunities in your local area this tree planting season:
The Future Forest Network - Use this fantastic map to find tree planting events listed by groups and organisations from across the country.
Tree Planting UK - If you’re on Facebook, check out this inspiring community where tree knowledge and events, both big and small, are posted almost everyday.
The Tree Council - Find out who your local tree warden is (or even become one yourself) and find planting events in your local area.
Reforest Britain - See this full directory for volunteering opportunities on UK reforestation projects across the UK.
Planting trees in your local area
Our Tree Town Guide gives step-by-step advice for planting trees in your local area - from mapping out the best locations and getting permission from local landowners, to choosing which species to plant.
"I'm always looking for ways to tackle climate change, and I've concluded that planting trees is the best way to step up my game! That being said, I would never have thought of starting a tree-planting project in this way had it not been for the Tree Town Guide." - Katie Percival, Bury
Sign up to Posssible’s mailing list to receive your free digital copy of our Tree Town guide. Already on our list? Email Hannah today and she’ll send you the pdf.
Ready to get planting yourself?
Great! We have lots of advice under the titles below. If you can’t find the answer to your question, get in touch with us at hello@wearepossible.org and we’ll be happy to help.
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When looking for places to buy trees, your local tree nursery may be your best option.
Trees are usually grown from seed at nurseries, where there are staff dedicated to taking good care of the young trees;
Nursery staff will be able to give you expert advice on how to grow your own tree at home.
You will be supporting businesses in your local community.
There are plenty of nurseries that deliver nationwide, many of which also sell the equipment you may need, such as stakes, flexible ties and tree guards. They also provide a wealth of information and advice on their websites. Here are a few that we’ve found for you:
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When it comes to planting a tree in your garden it’s important to choose a tree that is a good fit for your garden. There are plenty of things to consider when choosing your tree such as: the size of your garden, the height and spread of the tree when fully grown, growing conditions, whether you want a deciduous or evergreen tree and the distance between the tree and buildings.
If you want to plant a tree in a smaller garden, you should avoid larger species such as oak or beech, as their roots can damage the structure of your house and drainage systems. You should avoid planting anything too tall under power-lines. To find a suitable tree for your garden you can head to the Royal Horticultural Society website where you can filter through different tree species depending on your needs.
Fruit trees, such as apple and plum, could make a great addition to your garden. These trees tend to not grow too large, making them a manageable tree to have if you have a smaller garden.
Native trees are the best for supporting wildlife - they support significantly more species than non-native trees. This is why we highly recommend that you also consider planting native trees in your garden. Some small native species that work well in gardens are rowan, hazel, crab apple or elder. You can find loads more information about native species at Woodland Trust’s website.
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To put it simple, bare-rooted trees come without anything on their roots except plastic wrap to prevent roots drying out. Whereas containerised trees come in a pot with compost. Bare-rooted trees are grown in a field before being taken out to be sold, and containerised trees are grown in their containers. Some differences that are important to note are:
Bare-rooted trees are only available between November and March whereas containerised trees are available throughout the year.
Bare-rooted trees will need to be planted a few days after receiving them as the roots can dry out and only between November and March, but containerised trees can be planted whenever you want.
Some tree species are only available in containers e.g. some evergreens.
Bare-rooted trees tend to be cheaper than containerised trees of a similar size.
Bare-rooted trees aren’t as readily available as containerised trees as you can only buy them between November and March. You can usually find bare-rooted trees in nurseries only but containerised trees can be found in nurseries as well as garden centres throughout the year.
So which one is better? There’s not necessarily a difference in quality, so which one to choose depends on you. Take into account your budget, availability of tree types and the time of year you’d like to plant. Check out the RHS website for more information about bare-rooted and containerised trees.
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The best time to plant a tree is usually from mid November to late March, when the trees are dormant for the winter.
Aim to plant smaller trees around 3 metres from your house, and 2 metres apart from other trees. Larger trees can need much more space, so check online to see what is recommended for a particular species.
Dig a hole slightly wider and deeper than the roots and loosen the soil slightly around the edges. If you’re planting onto land that is turfed, you can chop up the turf you have removed and layer it in the bottom of the hole for extra nutrients.
Check for the collar of the tree - that’s the mark where it originally started to grow out of the soil - and make sure it’s level with the top of your hole. Too deep and the stem might rot, too shallow and any roots left above ground will die.
Hold the tree upright and fill in the soil around the tree, gently pressing it down around the roots. Careful not to compact it too much - you want to make sure water and air can still circulate.
Finally, add a cane for support. You might want to add a sleeve or other barrier to protect your new tree while it grows.
For more advice, as well as alternative methods for planting trees on stony or other difficult terrains, check out the Woodland Trust website.
Other ways to support tree planting efforts
If planting trees yourself is not an option, don’t worry - there are other things you can do this planting season to help to get more trees planted in the UK and beyond.
Speak to your friends and family about the benefits of tree planting projects, and encourage them to get involved. Why not share this article to kick off the conversation?
Write to your MP. The UK’s tree planting efforts are drastically below what the government’s climate advisers says is needed by 2050 to reach our climate targets. You can find your MP’s email address by typing your postcode into this government website.
Donate. In addition to supporting organisations undertaking mass tree-planting and rewilding projects, it’s a good idea to give to organisations working for indigenous rights. Reports have shown that areas owned and managed by indigenous communities store vast amounts of carbon, and these communities are best placed to protect these areas from threats of deforestation posed by governments and corporations looking to exploit land for profit.
Love what we’re doing? If you can afford to give just £2.50 a month, please consider supporting our work. Regular gifts give us the financial stability and security to build meaningful long term campaigns and reach the areas where climate action is needed most.