Grow Back Together
Project led by Street Trees for Living, and supported by Green Talk and Lewisham Council.
London Urban Forest Plan (LUFP) aims Growing and expanding and Promoting and supporting.
LUFP goals: 6 – Street Trees and 9 – Community Stewardship.
Overview
The Grow Back Together project aims to plant new street trees in Lewisham’s vacant tree pits, particularly in neighbourhoods with few existing trees.
In its first phase, the project delivered 94 trees with a 95 per cent establishment success rate. Local ‘Tree Guardian’ volunteers care for 90 of these trees, providing watering and monitoring their health.
This project contributes to Goals 6 (Street Trees) and 9 (Community Stewardship) of the London Urban Forest Plan, demonstrating how to work with local residents to successfully replant in vacant tree pits
Replanting Lewisham’s vacant tree pits
Lewisham has around 3,000 vacant street tree pits. Street Trees for Living (STfL) launched the Grow Back Together project to increase the borough’s street tree population.
In its first phase, the goal was to replant 100 vacant pits. The project was supported by Green Talk and Lewisham Council, with funding from the Greater London Authority’s Grow Back Greener fund.
Priority was given to neighbourhoods with:
- High deprivation
- High flood risk
- Poor air quality
- Low tree canopy cover
Focusing on these areas helped maximise the project’s impact on both community wellbeing and the local environment.
Tree guardians
Many tree planting initiatives face challenges in maintaining newly planted trees. Street trees need regular watering until their roots are fully established, or they risk dying.
To address this, STfL created a ‘Tree Guardianship’ scheme. Residents or workers within 50 metres of a vacant tree pit were invited to volunteer. Guardians commit to watering the trees for three years.
This approach improved survival rates and strengthened community connections with local trees. Guardians can also donate to support future tree planting.
Building community partnerships
For the first phase of the project, Lewisham Council identified 150–200 suitable tree pits. STfL engaged with local communities to gain approval for each vacant pit targeted for restocking and recruit Tree Guardians.
Once locations were confirmed, each pit received a poster announcing that a tree would be planted soon. The posters included a QR code linking to an interactive map of Lewisham’s vacant tree pits, created by Green Talk.
‘Get a tree here’ QR code used to advertise the project and tree guardianship
A Grow Back Together label on a street tree in Lewisham.
Successes and challenges
The project successfully planted 94 trees across Lewisham, representing 19 different species. Tree Guardians care for 90 of these trees, while contractors maintain the rest until more volunteers are recruited.
The partnership between STfL, Green Talk, and Lewisham Council proved highly effective. Feedback from Tree Guardians was overwhelmingly positive. They appreciated:
- The ease of volunteering
- The enjoyment of caring for a tree
- The greening of their streets
- The boost to civic pride
However, STfL’s consultation also revealed concerns. Some residents feared that unwanted trees might be damaged or vandalised. Tree pits were not replanted where residents opposed new trees.
Tips for future projects
- Engage residents in street planting plans. Engage with them as individuals, and ensure they feel heard.
- Understand where trees are not wanted. This ensures trees are planted where they’ll be cared for and thrive. STfL identified suitable pits and then asked residents if they were willing to support planting. This prioritised trees where they were most needed and welcomed.
Find out more about the Grow Back Together project, Street Trees for Living and Green Talk.
Learn more about urban forest projects across London
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