Trees in Cities

Trees are an important part of our natural life support system: they have a vital role to play in the sustainability of our towns and cities and we need to take better care of them, both now and in the future.

Trees and woods help to improve the quality of life for the millions of people who live and work in urban areas, and since the West Midlands is one of the country’s largest conurbations, Birmingham is a very good place to show how the urban forest can contribute to sustainable city living.

Most people agree that trees are a good thing, and yet we see them felled in huge numbers for development, starved of natural food and water, damaged at their roots by earthworks, casually vandalised or insensitively pruned.

We are lucky to have lots of trees in Birmingham, but many were planted more than a century ago, so this wonderful living legacy is under serious pressure and in decline. With care, we can continue to enjoy it for some years yet, but we also need an extensive programme of replacement planting to provide the trees and woodlands for the future that will match the vision of the past.

Cannon Hill Park Tree Walk Guide

BTFL was proud to launch its first Tree Walk Guide in 2010, for Cannon Hill Park, the city’s flagship park.  The leaflet details over 20 trees in the park, and includes a map to take visitors on a tour around the magnificent trees in this beautiful park.  We hope that the Tree Walk Guide will encourage people to take more interest in the trees in the park and to see them in a different way.  BTFL is grateful to Calthorpe Estates for their support which enabled this leaflet to be produced.

Download a PDF copy of the leaflet here

Ward End Park Tree Trail

In July 2014 the Friends of Ward End Park launched their new Tree and Sculpture Trail.  Sue Griffith of BTFL wrote the accompanying leaflet on behalf of the Friends, which was funded through a grant from Community First, and the beautiful log sculptures were funded through a Big Lottery Fund grant.  Trees planted by BTFL form part of the tree trail.  This historic inner city park is a beautiful example of an urban park, and the very active Friends Group plays a huge role in keeping it looking good, as well as organising events and projects on behalf of, and with, the local community.

Download a PDF copy of the leaflet here