One Million Trees

Our aim

We are working with city partners to plant one million native trees across Belfast by 2035.

This project, which launched in National Tree Week, is one of our major programmes to support climate adaptation across the city and it will make a substantial contribution to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs’ Northern Ireland-wide Forest of our Future (link opens in new window) initiative.

By planting one million trees, we are aiming to:

• reduce carbon
• improve air quality
• reduce flooding
• increase urban cooling
• support and enhance biodiversity
• improve physical and mental health and wellbeing.

Belfast One Million Trees was inspired by an original idea from the Belfast Metropolitan Residents Group and it is a collaboration between public, private and voluntary sector partners.

We have currently planted 63,000 trees in Belfast and our city regions.

Watch

Watch this animation for a short summary on this project and our joint goal.

Working with others

Residents

Although our planting will start on approved partner sites, as we move forward there will be opportunities for everyone to get involved. 

Businesses

We have been working with Business in the Community NI and individual businesses to explore how businesses can get involved in One Million Trees. 

Schools

In the first phase, we have been working with the Education Authority, the Woodland Trust and Keep NI Beautiful ECO-Schools Project to engage with schools in Belfast. We will continue to work with schools throughout the project.

Community groups

We’ve been engaging with community groups in the areas where we’re planning to plant. We have also been liaising with the Voluntary, Community and Small Enterprise Panel within the Belfast Community Planning Partnership and the Community Climate Action Working Group (part of the Belfast Climate Commission).

Next steps

• We’ve been identifying potential planting sites on both council and programme partners' land and will be planting trees at various locations during tree planting season which runs from November to March each year.
• We’re also asking for location suggestions from local businesses, community groups, schools and residents.
• We’re also planning more work around coordinating volunteers, coordinating education and training opportunities.

Partners

The project’s key partners include the Woodland Trust, the Conservation Volunteers, Belfast Hills Partnership, National Trust, Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Department for Infrastructure, Department for Communities, Northern Ireland Electricity, Queen’s University, Belfast Harbour Commission, the Education Authority, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, DAERA, Translink, the BMRG, PSNI and Invest NI.

Have your say

Tell us your comments and suggestions for planting sites at Your say Belfast (link opens in new window)

Use the mapping tool to tell us the places where you'd like to see a tree planted. We especially want to hear from businesses and public landowners across the city who would be willing to plant a tree on their land.

More information

If your business, school or community group would like to get involved or you'd like more information about this project, please email resilient@belfastcity.gov.uk.

For information and advice on trees or planting trees, go to www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/advice (link opens in new window)