Urban and Rural Trees of England Are Mapped for the First Time

A new map by the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Forest Research agency outlines where the non-woodland trees of England can be found. This map, the first to map rural and urban trees in England, can serve as a tool for more precise tree planting.

Based on the Trees Outside Woodland Map, which launched over the weekend, England’s individual urban and rural trees make up about 30% of the country’s existing tree cover. Forest Research’s tree scientists used laser technology and satellite imagery to detect and map out the trees.

“Our precious street trees improve air quality, mark the changing seasons and provide us with peace, shade and joy. Their value simply cannot be overstated,” UK Forestry Minister Mary Creagh said in a statement. “This groundbreaking new tree census will not only help us better understand our current tree canopy cover, but allow us to identify areas where we can create more nature rich habitats for wildlife and people to enjoy as part of our Plan for Change.”

The UK Plan for Change is a set of government targets for improving concerns such as living standards, education and sustainability. According to DEFRA, the tree cover map could help the UK reach its target to increase woodland canopy cover to 16.5%.

Officials and conservation groups can use the map to pinpoint areas that need additional trees to connect single trees in urban and rural areas to woodland areas, which could expand habitat for wildlife, boost natural carbon sequestration efforts and create more green spaces, which have been proven beneficial for public health.

In fact, one study determined that exposure to urban green spaces improved health at a cellular level, and another recent study found that urban green spaces are becoming more and more essential in combating rising heat deaths related to climate change.

While this is said to be the first map to identify non-woodland trees throughout England, there is a similar map available that also provides opportunities for prioritizing tree-planting efforts. Friends of the Earth, an NGO, has its own map that tracks wooded spaces throughout England, although it excluded trees in urban areas from the results. 

By utilizing such maps, conservationists, government officials and citizens can better prioritize areas that will benefit most from additional tree planting, as well as identify areas that need more conservation efforts for existing trees. 

According to Friends of the Earth, there are opportunities to nearly double the amount of existing woodland cover in England, even without interfering with farms, peatlands and protected sites. Add in the opportunities outlined in urban spaces and other areas captured in the Trees Outside Woodland Map, and there could be significant increases in tree canopy across England in the coming years.

“This has been a real endeavour by the team — the results are spectacular and will be invaluable to us as we strive to meet our legal target to increase tree planting cover,” Sir William Worsley, Chair of Forestry Commission, said in a statement. “The map fills critical data gaps about our national tree assets, helping us understand this natural resource and the benefits it brings, including carbon storage. Many people — from citizens to governments — will use the map to make evidence-based decisions to improve management and protection of our trees.”