LEWISHAM TARGETED SPACES
…planting trees in specific areas to increase canopy cover
Our targeted planting projects
Focusing on high priority areas to bring trees to streets that need them.
Our projects aim to plant trees where they will have the maximum benefit for the residents of Lewisham focusing on areas of low air quality, high flood risk and low numbers of trees.
Outside of our core residential programme and schools projects we have performed a a series of other targeted projects. Grow Back Together is the most prominent of these, which is a tech and community focused venture with Greentalk and Lewisham Council.
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Grow Back Together
Earlier this year the council located sites on residential streets where trees used to grow - vacant tree pits – and the GBT team has invited residents to look after these trees via an interactive map, stencilled pavements and QR codes. Keep your eyes peeled as you walk through the borough, as the trees are now in the ground with posters attached letting you know more about the project.
New trees are most vulnerable during their first three years due to lack of water, so they need help. With our interactive new map, and precious time and commitment offered to the project by a number of volunteer residents, we have secured guardians for 83% of our new trees so far.
How you can help
Become a tree guardian
Would you like to join our 500+ strong team of volunteers and become a Tree Guardian? It’s free, easy and enjoyable. If there is a new GBT tree near you that needs watering, please contact us.
Join the GBT waiting list
If there isn’t a tree near you yet don’t worry! We are working hard behind the scenes so that anyone who lives or works in Lewisham can get involved in our future targeted planting projects. Round 1 of Grow Back Together is now closed, but to sign up for future rounds please visit the Grow Back Together waiting list.
Or alternatively, our yearly residential planting which will be planting new trees winter 2024-25, might be more for you.
Watch our Grow Back Together presentation on YouTube.
Part of the Urban Tree Festival 2023:
Social Housing
With the support of the National Trust and as part of their ‘Greening Evelyn’ programme, in 2019 STfL worked with Pepys and Evelyn estates in Evelyn Ward to plant just under 40 new street trees. These trees were planted in areas of high need and where they would bring the most benefits, such as outside shops, along walkways, in soft verges and smaller green spaces, as well as close to busy roads.
We worked with the tenants’ residents’ association, and members of the local community for both estates, who helped to choose both species and locations, and signed up to become guardians to the new trees. Their input was key to the success of the project.
‘We are delighted to be working with STfL, Lewisham Council and local residents to plant trees in a place that has a special link to the formation of the National Trust. Our founders recognised the importance of access to nature and greenery for people’s wellbeing which is at the forefront of our work in London today.’
— Cathy Newbery, Project Manager London Programme, National Trust
We don’t just plant with primary schools! As a part of our targeted planting, we have also planted with youth centres, nurseries, secondary schools, health centres, public playgrounds and universities. If you like the sound of this and know of a community space in need of a few more trees, then get in touch.
Community spaces
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‘Residents and visitors are so happy to see trees go into our green spaces and it is already bringing our ‘covid fractured’ community back together. The whole feel of the area has been lifted into a more natural environment and more people here are now realising the importance of trees.’
— David Almond, member of the Tenants Resident Association, Pepys Estate, Deptford