Our Challenge
Climate change is making our cities hotter, with dangerous heating events expected to become more intense and more frequent. We know that trees help cool urban areas by casting shade and acting as natural air conditioners.
Suzanne Simmons, Trees for Cities, Urban Forest Director, explains:
One of the most tangible benefits of city trees is their ability to reduce urban heat by between 2ºC to 8ºC, through canopy shade and the cooling effects of air movement as the trees transpire. It might not sound like a lot, but this makes a huge difference to thermal comfort and in reducing the risks of heat-related illnesses, see power of urban trees to cool.
Street trees provide the greatest 'doorstep' benefits. The image below shows the impact of just a few street trees in transforming the look and feel of this neighbourhood. Our project will plant trees like these.
Our Keep Bristol Cool project responds to the challenge of climate change by supporting tree planting in East Bristol, particularly the BS5 postcode, where urban heat stress risk is greatest, as illustrated by the areas shaded red in the map below.
Our project will ask communities most at risk of urban heating where they would like to plant street trees. In response, we will provide professional support to get as many of these planted as possible.
This vibrant mural has been created in the project area and imagines tree lined community streets. With your support, residents are keen to be involved in making this a reality.
We are a collaboration that brings together Trees for Cities # Trees for Streets, the Natural History Consortium, Bristol Tree Forum and Bristol City Council. Together we have the passion, experience, credibility and expertise to deliver this project on behalf of communities in our target area.
Our project will support local Tree Champions, who can work with residents to identify the best location for trees. We will provide training so that Tree Champions are fully informed and confident to be great tree-planting advocates. We will create social media content for residents to share via WhatsApp Communities groups, to promote how to get involved and allow people to share key information about the project and benefits from planting trees - tailoring communication to such communities can then be used in other similar projects across the city. We run the project through Trees for Streets platform which is a collaboration between the Council and Trees for Cities.
Our Ask
We are seeking £75,000. This will fund:
£ 5,000 - to develop digital social assets [WhatsApp Communities].
£ 3,000 - to recruit and train Tree Champions to be great tree-planting advocates.
£ 2,000- promotional material - to get people involved.
£ 7,000 - project delivery
£58,000 - tree planting*
* Street trees require an 'engineered' tree pit and protection. Actual costs differ according to circumstance, we anticipate that £58,000 will fund at least 25 new street trees. These trees that will have the biggest impact in providing essential shade and neighbourhood greening.