Continuing our ambition for a greener borough: Sponsor a tree in Richmond

We are partnering with Trees for Streets to give residents, schools, community groups and businesses a simple and meaningful way to help make our borough even greener. 

We are building on our long-standing commitment to a greener, more climate-resilient borough by partnering with Trees for Streets to expand opportunities for community involvement in tree planting.

This new sponsorship scheme supports the ambitions set out in our Trees for Richmond strategy, which focuses on planting more trees, involving local communities and protecting the borough’s urban forest for future generations. With more than 30,000 trees already under Council care, we are proud of the progress we have made and determined to go further. 

Councillor Julia Neden-Watts, Deputy Leader and Chair of the Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sports Committee, said: 

"Planting trees makes our borough greener and more beautiful, while also supporting urban wildlife and helping us adapt to a changing climate with benefits that are felt by everyone who lives here, such as cooling our streets in very hot summers. 

"This new sponsorship scheme builds on the progress we have already made and reflects our ambition to grow and protect our tree canopy for the future. 

"If you’re able to, please consider sponsoring a street tree or a tree in one of our parks, or simply help spread the word. Together, we can all enjoy the benefits for years to come."

Trees sponsored through the scheme will complement the Council’s existing tree-planting programme and will sit alongside planned planting identified through climate-risk mapping. This helps ensure trees are planted where they can have the greatest long-term impact for communities and the environment.

When sponsoring a street tree, residents can suggest a preferred location. All locations are carefully checked by our expert trees team to ensure they are suitable and safe, and fit the Council’s wider programme.

Sponsor a tree

Sponsoring a tree is quick and easy: 

1. Choose a potential location and answer a few simple questions 
2. Our trees team will survey the site to check it is suitable 
3. Once approved, a young tree will be planted in the next planting season, between November and April

Sometimes it may not be possible to plant in the exact location suggested due to underground utilities, footpath width or other practical considerations, but every effort is made to plant nearby wherever possible.

Get involved in other ways 

Tree sponsorship is just one of the many ways residents can help care for our local environment. You can also: 

Water young street trees during the summer.

Take part in our popular free tree giveaway, which allows residents and local groups to plant their own trees.