Urban Forestry can be loosely defined as forests that grow in or around urban areas to provide ecosystem services. They can range from parks and large woodlands to simply the trees planted on streets or in people’s gardens. Whilst its name is relatively new, urban forestry has been shown to provide a huge variety of benefits to both people and wildlife in urban areas. As the UK is predominately urban, with around 80% of the population living in these areas, urban forestry is of great importance and will likely become more so in the future.
Within cities themselves, trees are particularly helpful for moderating the local climate and helping to insulate buildings. They act as a windbreak and also provide a canopy to act as a shelter against rain. Deciduous trees also lose their leaves during winter; allowing sunlight through to heat buildings. Trees can also aid in flood control – the cover from leaves restricts run-off whilst roots stabilise the surrounding soil. This is especially relevant given the recent adverse weather.
Forests have also been shown to have health benefits. 1/6 people in the UK will suffer a mental illness in their lifetime, but trees have been shown to help soothe anxiety, stress, and also improve recovery rates. Alongside this, trees have a huge role in filtering pollution. In Chicago approximately 10.8 tonnes of pollutants are removed daily by trees. Given the UK has one of the highest child asthma counts (around 15%), increasing these areas could be hugely beneficial.
Urban forestry could additionally have socio-economic benefits. These areas help promote community engagement and projects with nature. They’re also an essential education tool for the younger generation of the value of our natural areas. These sites are also cheaper to manage than grass fields which require frequent mowing. Additionally they raise the biodiversity and aesthetics of an area which can promote its housing market.
Ultimately there is a great range of opportunities from urban forestry. Alongside the enormous public benefit, this practice is becoming increasingly recognised. This could pave the way for the fusion of nature within our urban areas. Architecture in particular is incorporating these ideas into new building designs to create more aesthetic environments.
Naturally there are some challenges. In terms of ecology, planting trees needs to be performed carefully so that native species aren’t damaged – a non-native tree could spread disease or not benefit wildlife in the same way. Additionally there are also still superstitious beliefs surrounding woodlands. European fairy tales have made out forests to be dangerous places that need to be avoided, when in reality we should be encouraging their use for recreation and aiding wildlife.
Given such a simple concept has been shown to have such a multitude of positive effects, it is undeniably a practice that should be promoted and encouraged. With increasing information and training in urban forestry, and the expanding size of urban areas, the synergy of nature within cities and suburban areas will hopefully become more commonplace in the future.
Thomas Wilding 