Trees
Celebrating over 1,600 trees planted
in Morden Park in the past four years
We are taking action to double tree cover in Merton - join us!
Eight neighbourhoods in Merton are deprived of green spaces and Morden central has the second worst Green Space Rating in England*.
Learn more about how we are taking action and what you can do to help below.
Celebrating 1,600 trees planted to date in Morden Park - March 2025
The tree planting on 8 March was the fourth such event in Morden Park since Merton Friends of the Earth started the project of boosting the park’s biodiversity in 2020 during one of the toughest periods of the Covid pandemic.
Each time volunteers plant 420 trees, consisting of hawthorn, hazel, silver birch, rowan, English oak and blackthorn saplings.
The trees are supplied for free to community groups like Merton Friends of the Earth by the Woodland Trust, the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity. The saplings are selected with the aim of promoting woodland wildlife by providing food sources and habitats for a range of birds, insects and small mammals, like dormice and squirrels.
Gabriel Partos, joint co-ordinator of Merton Friends of the Earth said: “We are grateful to the dozens of volunteers of all ages who have now planted over 1,600 trees in Morden Park in four years. We couldn’t have achieved this without the generous support of the Woodland Trust. We also appreciate the help of Merton Council and their green spaces contractors, IdVerde, whose staff prepare the ground and provide mulch before each planting.”
Alex Butt, who joined Merton Friends of the Earth volunteers at the tree planting for the first time, said: “I can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday.”
More trees please
Trees not only draw down carbon emissions from the atmosphere and act as natural flood defences, but they also provide shelter, shade and sustenance to a wide range of species, improve air quality and have a positive impact on our mental health.
Yet the UK’s tree coverage is only at 13%, and eight Merton neighbourhoods are deprived of green space.
What we’re doing
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Planting new trees
Alongside the Merton Tree Wardens and Habitats & Heritage, and with the support of the Heritage Trust Network, we’ve planted 450 saplings in Morden Park and plan to plant 420 more in spring 2022.
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Protecting existing trees
We take a stand when existing trees, particularly mature ones, are threatened or destroyed, from protesting tree felling outside TrustFord Wimbledon to objecting to the proposed AELTC development.
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Planning for the future
We will scrutinise the upcoming Merton Trees Strategy, meet regularly with the Merton Cabinet Member for Local Environment and Green Spaces and helped develop the Growing Together community planting project.
Other ways you can help
Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland is campaigning to double UK tree cover. You can get involved by finding out where best to plant trees, donating to the cause or protecting trees where you live.