Restoring green spaces
A decade of community action
Protecting the environment means looking beyond carbon emissions and actively caring for the natural world around us. In 2015, we launched a long-term conservation project with the charity The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) to address the UK’s ecological and climate emergencies.
Together, we created I Dig Trees, which grew to become the UK’s largest community-led tree planting programme. We provided free native tree packs and expert training to help people reclaim, restore, and protect the green spaces in their own neighbourhoods.
10 years of impact
Throughout our decade-long partnership with TCV, we delivered huge results for UK biodiversity:
Planted 4,308,200 native broadleaf trees across the country, building a lasting green legacy for future generations
Mobilised 143,120 volunteers who got their hands dirty to connect with nature, learn new conservation skills, and improve their well-being
Supported 8,945 community groups and schools, giving local people the tools to take meaningful action for the planet.
Created thousands of wildlife-friendly pocket forests in towns and cities, transforming local green spaces and creating vital areas for native species to thrive.
Growing a better future for people and wildlife
The I Dig Trees movement was about much more than planting saplings. It was about making sure that every group had what they needed to help their pocket forests survive and thrive. Not only did 90% of volunteers feel more connected to nature, but 91% felt more connected to their local community. Together, we proved that community-led conservation is one of the most powerful tools we have to boost biodiversity, fight climate change, and bring people together.