UK cities urged to plant more trees to tackle dangerous heatwaves
A coalition of environmental and horticultural groups has warned the government that British cities urgently need increased tree cover, grass and vegetation to reduce the growing threat of heatwaves.
The Woodland Trust, the Horticultural Trade Association (HTA) and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) are collectively calling on ministers and all levels of government to implement decisive action.
Their calls focus on maximizing “green infrastructure” to effectively reduce summer temperatures in urban environments.
These organizations argue that a significant increase in native wood production is needed to support cooling initiatives in UK towns and cities that are increasingly vulnerable to extreme heat due to human-caused climate change.
The call from the HTA, RHS and Woodland Trust comes as the UK endured two record-breaking heatwaves during a summer. All-time high temperatures of 35.1°C were recorded in May, followed by an even higher temperature of 37.7°C in June.
The groups highlighted a Manchester study showing that concrete surfaces exposed to full sun reached 40°C, while grass under the same conditions recorded only 23°C. Most importantly, adding tree shade lowered temperatures by 12°C in concrete and 9°C in grass.
The “strong roots” report published by the three organizations last year suggests that efforts to increase tree cover as part of environmental and climate commitments are likely to be held back by barriers to native tree production.
They are now calling for the Government’s upcoming UK tree action plan to maximize green infrastructure and support the domestic tree production sector.
They said this should include carrying out a feasibility study into how much imported trees could be grown in this country and a specific action plan to increase productive and ornamental tree production in the UK.
HTA chief executive Fran Barnes said: “Green infrastructure is not a nice-to-have; it is essential climate infrastructure.”
Plants, gardens and trees can make a “measurable difference” to the warm feel of streets, homes and communities by providing shade, cooling the air and reducing heat absorbed by buildings, roads and pavements in urban areas, he said.
Fran Barnes added: “This is important because hotter summers are already changing people’s experiences of towns and cities.
“If we want safer, healthier and more livable places in extreme heat, we need to plan, grow and plant trees and green spaces that will protect communities for decades to come.
“The UK wood industry is ready to be part of this solution, but the Government needs to give businesses the confidence to invest in the domestic production needed to deliver this.”
Andy Egan, head of conservation policy at the Woodland Trust, said: “Last week’s extreme temperatures show how ill-prepared we are for a rapidly changing climate.
“While some communities were overwhelmed, others were shaded by trees that cooled surface temperatures by more than 10C.”
He warned that millions of people across the UK live in “tree deserts” where there is not enough tree cover to protect them from heat and other problems such as air pollution, stress and health problems, and called for the Government’s tree action plan to prioritize planting high-quality homegrown trees in these areas.
Professor Alistair Griffiths, director of science and collections at the RHS, warned that extreme heat will no longer be a threat in the future, saying: “It is here now and our towns and cities are feeling the strain.
“Trees are one of the most effective natural tools we have for cooling urban environments, improving air quality and supporting biodiversity.
“But to realize these benefits at scale, we urgently need to grow, install and provide long-term care for more resilient, homegrown trees,” he said, adding that supporting domestic production, installation and long-term care was an investment in the UK’s long-term health, prosperity and economic resilience.
