Cambridge City Council is marking National Tree Week by launching a new citywide tree-planting initiative called Trees For Peace.

Trees for Peace is a new annual community planting project which will see 14 trees planted each year – one for each of Cambridge’s 14 wards – to symbolise the city’s commitment to peace, and the ongoing work of promoting peaceful, inclusive, empowered and connected communities.

Residents will be invited to take part in planting events and to help create and sustain these lasting living landmarks for the city. The programme will be delivered with support from the council’s Tree Team and Community Engagement Team, with the first planting days set to take place in the early months of the new year, which is the most suitable time for establishing young trees.

In addition, during National Tree Week, from 26-30 November the council – along with Cambridge Nature Network – is hosting some tree-related storytelling workshops for young people at the council’s Sheep’s Green and Coe Fen Local Nature Reserve, called ‘Weaving Words With Willows’.

Storyteller Lotte Dijkstra is asking ‘If you lived like an old willow tree, what would life be like?’ and leading groups through an outdoor exploration of the tree-filled open spaces alongside the River Cam. More details and bookings are available from Cambridge Live Tickets.

These sessions form part of the council’s ongoing DiversiTree project, which promotes the importance of diversity to the city’s urban forest, including by identifying and managing veteran trees along riverbanks.

In total there are more than 240,000 trees in Cambridge with a variety of landowners responsible for their upkeep, including the council, other local authorities, universities, private householders and businesses. Over recent years the council has planted thousands of trees in public spaces around the city.

The council carries out work on an ongoing basis to look after the trees in Cambridge such as by:

• Protecting existing trees across the city including veteran and ‘heritage’ trees
• Enhancing tree cover through new tree planting and encouraging others to do so
• Managing the council’s own existing tree stock in parks, streets and open spaces

Early in 2026 the council will be asking the public to take part in a consultation on a brand new Urban Forest Strategy, which will set out how we will protect, manage and expand the city’s trees and canopy cover in the coming years.

One of the ways the council has successfully encouraged the planting of more trees in recent years is through its popular Free Trees For Babies scheme. Under the scheme, any Cambridge resident with a child aged under four is eligible to choose a free tree from the council for planting at home. The council also welcomes applications from residents wishing to celebrate an adoption or commemorate a loved one.

Cllr Martin Smart, Cabinet Member for Nature, Open Spaces and City Services, said: “This project is a celebration of the values that hold our communities together. By planting trees with our city residents we are creating a shared legacy for future generations. Trees for Peace will give us all the opportunity for reflection and contemplation.

“As a council we’re very conscious of the importance of our amazing urban forest, and we are committed to safeguarding and enhancing it for everyone to enjoy. Trees benefit our city by making it a more attractive and healthier place to live in – studies have proved that being around trees can improve mental health. They also reduce the worst effects of sun, wind, and rain; they screen out noise and air pollution while improving the appearance of an area – and can play a significant role in increasing biodiversity and reducing the impact of climate change.”