Planting Our Future

Your Future Solihull

Planting Our Future

Join us in making Solihull a greener, healthier place to live by planting 250,000 trees by 2030. Through our Planting Our Future initiative, we are increasing biodiversity, capturing carbon, and reducing pollution across the borough, one tree at a time.

Since launching in 2020, we have planted 100,000 trees, a significant step that earned Solihull the prestigious status of a Tree City of the World. But we are not stopping there. By 2030, with the help of our residents, schools, businesses, and community groups, we aim to plant an extra 150,000 trees.

This ambitious goal is an important part of our response to the climate emergency, but we cannot do it alone. We need the support and participation of the entire Solihull community - together, we can create a revitalised network of green spaces that improves both urban and rural areas.

Why trees matter

Trees do not just make our landscapes more beautiful, they:

  • capture and store carbon, helping fight climate change
  • reduce flooding by soaking up rainwater
  • provide vital habitats for countless species, promoting biodiversity
  • contribute to cleaner air by reducing pollution

By planting trees, we are investing in a greener future, one that will benefit both people and the environment for generations to come.

How you can get involved

Planting trees is a community effort. Whether you're a resident, school, business, or landowner, we invite you to join us in making a lasting change to our natural environment.

  • Residents - Help us plant trees in your neighbourhood by sponsoring a celebration tree or by getting involved in community-led green projects
  • Community Groups - Work with us to develop local plans and strategies that bring tree planting projects to life in your community
  • Schools - Through our Free Hedgerows for Schools initiative, we support educational facilities in growing hedgerows around their boundaries, creating natural habitats that benefit both the environment and students
  • Businesses - Highlight your commitment to sustainability by supporting tree-planting efforts or providing land for new woodland areas
  • Landowners - Partner with us to create new green corridors, hedgerows, and woodland areas on your property

No matter your role, every tree planted brings us closer to a more sustainable Solihull.

Discover some of the Planting Our Future projects below.

An image showing the project at Dorridge Cricket Club

Dorridge Cricket Club (DCC) welcomed volunteers to help transform their grounds into a greener, more sustainable space. With support from Sport England, DCC secured funding to develop a second cricket pitch and generously offered part of their land for tree planting to enhance the site’s natural beauty and environmental impact.

The club was later joined by 15 dedicated volunteers from E.ON, as part of their corporate social responsibility efforts, who helped to plant 800 young saplings to establish a new hedgerow around the cricket pitch. This hedgerow will serve as a valuable natural feature, providing windbreaks, wildlife habitats, noise reduction, and aesthetic benefits.

The tree planting continued with a second event, where 25 volunteers from Lloyds Banking Group returned to plant an additional 700 trees on the club’s new grounds. The collaboration helped to create a small woodland area in the corner of the grounds, enhancing the club’s environment, and creating a sustainable space that benefits both the community and local wildlife for years to come.

A image showing the project at St Columban's

A remarkable gathering of over 100 people came together at St Columban's, made up of 45 students and their mentors from 21 different schools, Columban missionaries, community planting events staff and their families, parishioners from Olton Friary parish, refugees from the Hope Garden project, and employees from MACE.

Over four days, this dedicated group worked together to plant more than 2,000 trees, showcasing the power of community collaboration and demonstrating a shared commitment to environmental stewardship.

An image showing the project at Tudor Grange Academy

Planting Our Future worked with Tudor Grange Academy where students planted 500 whips to establish a new hedgerow on their school grounds, alongside eight fruit trees to create a small orchard that will provide fresh fruit for the school community.

Through these hands-on activities, the pupils not only learnt practical planting skills, but also discovered the long-term benefits their new green spaces would bring, from providing wildlife habitats and fresh produce to enhancing the school's environment. This project has empowered students to take an active role in improving their surroundings and promoting sustainability for future generations.

Find out more

Want to be part of Solihull’s green revolution? Visit our Planting Our Future webpage to learn more, explore upcoming projects, and discover how you can make a difference.

For any questions, or to find out how you can contribute, please contact us at plantingourfuture@solihull.gov.uk.