Plymouth awarded Tree City of the World status

TWO years after 110 trees were cut down in the city centre, Plymouth has been recognised as a Tree City of the World for planting a huge number of trees last winter.

- WILLIAM TELFORD

Since November 2024, more than 35,000 new trees have been planted across the city, earning the city recognition from Tree Cities of the World, joining dozens of global cities including New York City, Buenos Aires, Malmo and Canberra and British cities such as Sheffield, Hull and Newcastle.

The Tree Cities of the World programme is an international effort to recognise cities and towns committed to ensuring their urban forests and trees are properly maintained, sustainably managed, and celebrated.

The accolade comes as welcome news for the city, which was criticised for losing 110 trees in Armada Way in 2023 and in other high-profile spots such as Woolwell and Lambhay Hill.

But Plymouth City Council teams have also helped plant more than 5,700 trees to further enhance the Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest. Meanwhile, in addition to the trees planted in and around the city, council and Community Forest teams assisted with the planting of a vast 30,000-strong forest on MoD land near Ernesettle.