Plymouth has been officially recognised as a Tree City of the World following an extraordinary winter of tree planting that saw over 35,000 new trees established across the city and surrounding areas.

This achievement is the result of a major collaborative effort involving Plymouth City Council, the Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest, and local charity Plymouth Tree People. Since November 2024, more than 5,700 trees have been planted across parks, road verges, school grounds, and residential streets—enhancing urban green spaces and supporting biodiversity.

A standout feature of this season’s work was the creation of a 30,000-tree forest on Ministry of Defence land near Ernesettle, supported by Council and Community Forest teams. In total, over 40 species of trees were planted, including 45 varieties of fruit trees, helping to establish five new community orchards.

The city also saw the planting of:

• 658 standard and fruit trees, nearly double the number from the previous year
• 5,102 whips for hedgerows and wildlife corridors
• 21 planting sites, including six on non-Council land
• 246 community volunteers engaged across 13 planting days

This recognition as a Tree City of the World celebrates Plymouth’s commitment to sustainable urban forestry, community engagement, and long-term environmental stewardship.

Read more at Plymouth.gov.uk.