We believe everyone in Scotland deserves full and fair access to the benefits of trees. Our Tree Equity Score tool is designed to help make that happen.
We know that trees in urban areas are good for our health and wellbeing. They improve air quality, provide shade and shelter, boost biodiversity, reduce stress and create attractive places to live and work.
And with over 4.3 million Scots living in towns and cities, equal access to nature has never been more important.
Unfortunately, the benefits of urban trees are not shared equally. While Scotland’s average urban canopy cover is 18.8%, many areas fall well short of this. Neighbourhood canopy cover varies massively from less than 1% to as much as 67%, and nearly a third of Scotland’s urban areas have less than 10% canopy cover.
Typically, it is the communities that could benefit the most that are missing out. The wealthiest urban areas in Scotland boast almost twice as much tree cover per person compared to our least affluent neighbourhoods. Similarly, healthier neighbourhoods, on average, enjoy 40% more tree canopy cover than the least healthy areas. Areas with fewer trees often face higher rates of respiratory illness, heat-related health issues and mental health challenges.
That’s why action to make sure everyone has full and fair access to the benefits of urban trees, near to where they live, is so important. We call this tree equity.
urban neighbourhoods in Scotland have less than 10% tree canopy cover.
Scots live in urban areas which fall short of achieving tree equity.
more trees are needed to achieve tree equity in Scotland.
Credit: American Forests
Tree Equity Score UK is a powerful map-based tool that highlights where action is most needed to improve tree equity. Almost 5,000 neighbourhoods in Scotland’s larger towns and cities have a tree equity score. The lower the score, the greater the need for trees!
According to Tree Equity Score UK, 1.4 million people in Scotland live in neighbourhoods where increasing tree cover is a high priority.
Our vision is a Scotland where every urban neighbourhood has ample trees, so that regardless of background, circumstances, ability or identity, we can all enjoy full and fair access to the benefits that trees offer, close to where we live and work.
Achieving that means:
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Sign up nowWe've launched a five-year action plan setting out what we will do to improve Scotland’s tree equity.
By 2030 we aim to improve tree equity in at least 50% of neighbourhoods with a Tree Equity Score below 80. That’s at least 965 neighbourhoods, home to around 730,000 people. To do this, we will:
Tree Equity Score is a powerful tool that you can use to help improve urban green space in your local area.
Trees help people and nature thrive and we need more of them in the ground. That’s why we’re giving thousands away free to schools, councils, clubs and more.
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