Project begins
Project launch with initial planting events.
Reforestation
Restoring native trees and shrubs across Milton Keynes, UK
Overview
Site
Timeline
Benefits
Verification
Why support this project?
This project addresses the urgent need to reverse the decline of existing urban green spaces, which have experienced degradation and loss of biodiversity. By increasing native tree and shrub cover, the project strengthens habitat connectivity across Milton Keynes, providing improved habitats for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife. The combination of habitat restoration, community participation, and ongoing management ensures long-term resilience for these vital green spaces.
Why plant trees?
Reforestation replants trees on land hit by natural or human disturbance. It restores forest structure and canopy, protects biodiversity and watersheds, and promotes carbon sequestration.
Project summary
Working with local land managers, councils, and community groups, Ecologi is supporting International Tree Foundation to restore and enhance degraded areas of grassland, woodland, and hedgerows across four restoration projects in Milton Keynes. The projects include creating two new native woodland copses in Galley Hill, planting a diverse understory at Horseshoe Walk in Great Holm, enhancing grassland managed by The Parks Trust, and replacing a long-dead, single-species hedgerow in Shenley Brook End and Tattenhoe with a diverse native hedge.
The project zones across Milton Keynes comprise a mixture of urban grassland, woodland, hedgerows, and community green spaces, alongside residential areas, roads, footpaths, and recreational facilities. The new copses in Galley Hill will provide succession planting for trees originally planted when the estates were first developed in the 1970s.
Locations
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Timeline
Follow the latest milestones and updates from this project.
Planting begins
Main planting and restoration period across the sites.
Benefits
Climate
The projects will increase native tree and shrub cover across urban areas, helping to sequester carbon and improve local air quality. The diverse range of native species planted will increase resilience to changing climatic conditions, including drought and extreme weather. Mulching will help retain moisture and protect trees during periods of drought.
Nature
The projects will increase structural and species diversity, providing improved habitats for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife. The new copses, woodland understorey, and native hedgerows will strengthen links between existing green spaces, enhancing habitat connectivity across Milton Keynes. A diverse range of native UK tree and shrub species will be used, all appropriate for the local ecology.
People
Local residents and community groups will have opportunities to take part in tree planting and ongoing maintenance, helping to build practical skills, community connections, and a sense of ownership. The projects will provide more attractive and nature-rich spaces for people to enjoy, supporting wellbeing and strengthening local engagement. Partnerships with local parish councils and community networks will help promote participation from a diverse range of volunteers.
SDGs supported
Increasing native tree and shrub cover across Milton Keynes sequesters carbon and improves local air quality. The diverse mix of native species builds resilience to changing climatic conditions, including drought and extreme weather, and mulching helps retain moisture and protect young trees through dry periods.
Across four sites, the project restores degraded grassland, woodland and hedgerows, including two new native copses at Galley Hill, a diverse understorey at Horseshoe Walk and a native hedge replacing a long-dead, single-species hedgerow. The use of diverse native UK species increases structural and species diversity, providing improved habitats for birds, pollinators and other wildlife. The new planting strengthens links between existing green spaces, enhancing habitat connectivity across the city, while core volunteer groups provide ongoing monitoring and maintenance.
Verification
These partners help deliver the project and verify its impact.
Suppliers
International Tree Foundation
International Tree Foundation is a charity working with local communities to plant trees and restore forests in places where, together, we can make the fastest, most lasting impact for communities and the future of our planet.