Trees for Streets in Bedford

Bedford was one of the first council areas to jump on board the national Trees for Streets scheme in 2021, and they fully embraced the chance to re-green their local streets! 

Working Together to Make Their Streets Better

Residents of Bedford have been quick to realise the great opportunity that Trees for Streets can bring – a scheme that is being run by national charity, Trees for Cities. It is supported by the Green Recovery Challenge Fund, which is funded by DEFRA and managed by the Heritage Lottery.

We’ve had hundreds of local residents get in touch through our website requesting trees to brighten up their streets and make them better places to live and work. 

TECH FOR GOOD

Trees for Streets is a Tech for Good project that uses technology to empower individuals, residents and organisations to get involved in greening their communities. We do this by hosting tree sponsorship schemes on behalf of local councils and delivering local promotion and engagement activities to bring these schemes to life.

Trees for Streets uses a clever online mapping app that lets residents request to sponsor trees in streets and local parks.

The team at Trees for Streets publicise the scheme around each participating city or borough via leaflets, council emails, social media, PR and community contacts.

Greening Bedford

Some residents across Bedford have taken advantage of the Trees for Streets scheme to plant trees in places where they often wished there had been one, or to connect to their community in a meaningful way by literally laying down roots.

We’ve had trees planted to mark retirements, celebrate the lives of loved ones and simply for the joy that they can bring. And one road where residents got together to raise enough money for 18 new street trees!

SPONSOR STORIES

Heather sponsored a glorious Cherry tree on the pavement outside her home. She’s so impressed with the new tree that she has plans to plant even more! 

Three generations of the Sams family from the Kempston area pioneered the scheme and sponsored the first tree in their street. They are delighted their new tree and want to encourage others to get involved. 

Nicola has a family connection to all things trees and decided to sponsor one in memory of her late parents. We thank Nicola for using our scheme in such a special way. 

The Riverfield Drive community led a wonderful crowdfunding campaign that succeeded in funding an amazing 18 new trees on their street! 

These are just a handful of the stories of our wonderful sponsors – you can read more here.

WANT TO GREEN YOUR STREET?

If you’d like to get involved in greening your streets by planting a tree outside your home, on your street or in a local park like the residents of Bedford have, it’s simple!

As long as your council is participating in the scheme, all you have to do is use our app to make the request. 

If your council is not already working with our charity or doesn’t already have a scheme, there’s an option on our app to complete an “expression of interest”, then we’ll send them a request to get involved on your behalf.