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Many people are standing and working in a field (Ashburton Playing Fields). The field has three areas of mulch where saplings are being planted. People are planting the saplings with shovels or with their hands. Some people are wearing high-vis jackets while others are wearing ‘Trees for Cities Volunteer’-branded green bibs. There is a ‘Trees for Cities’ flag in the foreground and a gazebo in the background.

Tree planting at Ashburton playing fields in Croydon

Project led by Trees for Cities, and supported by the London Borough of Croydon and Croydon Youth Assembly’s Transformation sub-group.

Contributes to London Urban Forest Plan (LUFP) aims Growing and expanding and Promoting and supporting.

LUFP goals: 7 – Trees in green estates and 9 – Community stewardship.

Overview

Ashburton Playing Fields is a 20 hectare park amenity grassland site in the London Borough of Croydon. The surrounding area’s tree canopy cover is 11.98 per cent, which is much lower than London’s average of 21 per cent. 

In March 2024, Trees for Cities planted 44 trees to increase tree canopy cover. This included 26 different tree species. Local communities were consulted, and volunteers planted the trees during a community planting day. Trees for Cities has funding for tree care and maintenance until October 2026. 

Revitalising a neighbourhood park

Ashburton Playing Fields is a 20-hectare park located in Croydon’s Shirley North and Addiscombe East wards. Only 11.98 per cent of the wards are covered by trees (Curio Canopy, 2018), compared with London’s average of 21 per cent. The park’s original use was a sports playing field, but it had become poorly maintained. While the neighbouring Ashburton Park has a ‘Friends Of’ group, the Playing Fields does not have one.  

Croydon Borough Council and the Croydon Youth Assembly’s Transformation sub-group identified this site for tree planting. The Council approached Trees for Cities to facilitate its delivery. Trees for Cities led on community consultation, design and planting.

The Forestry Commission’s Urban Tree Challenge Fund provided the funding. Trees for Cities also provided additional funding through their corporate partners Amex and GETT.

Getting the community involved

The first site visit took place in August 2023, followed by a community planting day in March 2024. 75 volunteers and three Volunteer Planting Supervisors attended the planting day. Participants included: 

  • Councillors 
  • Croydon Youth Assembly’s Transformation sub-group members 
  • St. Christopher’s Hospice.

44 trees were planted, including 26 different species. The Urban Tree Challenge Fund provides funding until October 2026. During this period, Trees for Cities will maintain the trees and recruit volunteers to care for the newly planted trees. Any trees that do not survive in the first year will be replaced. After October 2026, Croydon Council will be responsible for the trees.

Many people are standing and working in a field (Ashburton Playing Fields). The field has three areas of mulch where saplings are being planted. People are planting the saplings with shovels or with their hands. Some people are wearing high-vis jackets while others are wearing ‘Trees for Cities Volunteer’-branded green bibs. There is a ‘Trees for Cities’ flag in the foreground and a gazebo in the background.

Planting day taking place at Ashburton Playing Fields

Two men in full-body tree costumes stand on either side of a woman with a ‘Trees for Cities Volunteer’-branded green bib. The two men have their arms raised in a pose. The woman is holding a shovel in one hand.

Entertainers pose for a photo with a Trees for Cities volunteer

Successes and challenges

The project successfully got the local community involved. 75 volunteers and 3 Volunteer Planting Supervisors attended the community planting day. 89 per cent of attendees said they learned something new during the planting day. 71 per cent of volunteers said they wanted to get more involved in future urban tree projects. This success was thanks to Croydon Youth Assembly’s Transformation sub-group and Croydon Council starting the project.

Previous tree planting projects at Ashburton Fields were unsuccessful because they lacked the resources to care for the new trees. The Forestry Commission were initially reluctant to fund another project at Ashburton Fields. Trees for Cities developed a long-term tree maintenance plan to reassure the Forestry Commission. Trees for Cities also presented their previous successful tree planting projects across London.

Tips for future projects

  • Involve communities in planting and park improvement projects. This ensures improvements are made to respond to residents’ needs and preferences. Getting communities involved also encourages them to care for the trees in the future. 

  • Provide resources for establishment care (for example, watering, mulching) for a minimum of three years. Increasing tree canopy cover depends on the trees’ long-term survival. 

  • Understand the park’s ecology, uses and users to decide what trees to plant and where to plant them. At Ashburton Playing Fields, waterlog-tolerant species were chosen for waterlogged areas. Trees were planted along the park’s edges so they wouldn’t interfere with people playing sports.  

Find out more about Trees for Cities' work at Ashburton Playing Fields and Croydon Youth Assembly’s Transformation sub-group.

Learn more about urban forest projects across London

Read more case studies

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