One Tree Per Child: A Greener Bristol

Planting for a greener future

As part of Together360’s commitment to protecting and restoring the natural environment, SDS joined forces with Bristol City Council’s One Tree Per Child programme — an international tree-planting initiative that began in Bristol in 2015. The programme’s goal is to plant a tree for every primary school child in the city, helping to double Bristol’s tree canopy by 2045 while restoring green spaces and boosting biodiversity.

The Challenge
Urban areas like Bristol face the dual challenge of accommodating population growth while protecting green space and biodiversity. Increasing tree cover is critical to improving air quality, supporting wildlife habitats, and creating healthier, more resilient communities — but it requires long-term commitment and collective action.

Our Approach

Our team spent the day at Stoke Park Estate, planting rows of fledgling trees that will be nurtured over the next three years to form a thriving ecosystem.
Activities included:

– Planting approximately 400 young trees (hawthorn, crab apple, and spindle).

– Establishing two new hedgerows to connect habitats and support wildlife movement.

– Protecting each sapling with biodegradable sleeves to safeguard them from local deer while minimising environmental impact.

The Impact

Directly supported Bristol City Council’s target to double the city’s tree canopy by 2045.

Increased biodiversity through a mix of native species planting.

Created future carbon capture capacity and wildlife habitat.

Strengthened community green infrastructure with hedgerow creation.