About BTF

We are a group of volunteers dedicated to protecting and increasing the tree canopy cover of Bristol’s urban forest.

Why? Because tree cover brings so many benefits to an urban environment: a shared amenity, public health, economic growth, reduced pollution and flooding, wildlife, food and a better sense of well-being.

Our aims are to: 

• Provide a forum to encourage community engagement in Bristol’s urban tree management decisions.
• Promote the importance and value of Bristol’s urban trees.
• Work to increase tree canopy cover in Bristol through better protection of existing trees and planting new ones.

Our terms of reference are:

• protect and enhance our urban trees in streets, parks, gardens and all open spaces.
• encourage Bristol City Council (BCC) to ensure the replacement of trees that have been (and continue to be) removed.
• identify and access funding to ensure the retention of mature trees in our city and slow the present rate of felling.
• identify and access funding for the planting of new and replacement urban trees.
• stabilise then increase the urban canopy cover in line with the One City Plan to double tree canopy cover by 2046.
• work with BCC to plan for “climate proofing” our city in accordance with predicted urban temperature increases in the 21st century.
• argue for a fact-based approach to ensure that Bristol achieves a sustainable balance between the built form / hard surface and tree canopy cover.
• provide a mechanism for open consultation on urban trees issues between local community groups, interested professional bodies and several BCC Departments.
• promote greater understanding of the amenity value of trees and stay up-to-date with current thinking, policy and research.

This is our Constitution.

Here are our Minutes.

This is our Privacy Policy.

Some of the things we do…

• Comment on Planning Policies and Applications.
• Source funds for planting new and replacing existing trees.
• Identify and protect established & remarkable trees.
• Help local communities plant trees.
• Find locations to plant new trees across the city.
• Link up with local community groups and other stakeholders and help them appreciate trees and promote tree planting & protection.

We are not the only ones who love trees. Here are some others :

 PS. Please let us know if we have missed you out and we will gladly add you to the list.