Transform your street with trees

A contribution of £395 per tree is requested. How you raise the money is up to you and your neighbours. This contribution will cover approximately a third of the costs involved in planting the tree, with the remaining costs covered by the charity with support from Lewisham Council and grant-giving bodies.

We want to help bring more trees to the parts of Lewisham that need them most, so alongside the residential sponsorship programme, Street Trees for Living runs targeted planting projects in areas with low tree cover and other environmental needs and in some priority areas, funding from the Mayor of London’s Green Roots Fund covers the resident contribution.

The process usually takes 12–18 months. There is a long lead-up to planting because proposed locations need to go through the council's approval process and Street Trees for Living needs to coordinate species, suppliers and contractors.

Trees are planted during the winter planting season, which runs from October–March.

A tree affects the shared street environment, so local support is an important part of the process.

Speak to neighbours about where trees could go and what they think. For trees proposed directly outside someone's home, we normally need their agreement, what we call a ‘welcome’.

This isn't simply a formality. Planting trees where they are wanted and welcomed helps make the project genuinely collective and supports the long-term care of the tree.

Choosing the species is one of the most enjoyable parts of sponsoring a street tree. Once a planting location has been approved, it is assessed according to its size category and surrounding environment. This helps determine what type and size of tree is appropriate for the space.

Sponsors can share their preferences and STfL will do its best to accommodate them. However, species choices are subject to Council approval and tree availability. Sometimes nursery supply issues mean that a preferred species cannot be provided, or a choice may need to change later in the process.

STfL maintains a species list based on our planting experience and research, designed to provide a diverse range of trees that are suitable for Lewisham's streets. We also consider biodiversity when choosing what to plant.

If something you like isn’t on the list then feel free to ask, but chances are that it’s absent for good reason.  Cherry trees, for example, are beautiful and much loved, but they can be destructive to pavements and garden walls and as such Lewisham Council has now stated they are to be considered for soft verges only.

See our current (2026/27) species list.

A crucial step in getting a tree planted is preparing for its care once it has been planted. 

Every tree needs a Tree Guardian for three years after planting. The sponsor(s) often becomes the Tree Guardian, but many people choose to delegate roles to others in their community. 

We need at least one contact for the Guardian(s) who cares for the tree after it’s been planted, so they can receive occasional support and updates from us.

The most important job is to make sure the tree gets enough water. Our standard advice is to give the tree 20L of water once a week from March to October (when in leaf), although we expect this to be adjusted during particularly hot or dry periods.

We only plant species deemed suitable for paved environments and posing a low risk to pavements and property. Each case is unique when it comes to the risk of subsidence. If you are concerned about subsidence in your area, please contact Lewisham Council.

Yes! And we would love it if you did! If you need help with fundraising or engaging with neighbours, we’re very happy to help and will put you in touch with your local Area Rep.