BCP Projects | Trees Outside Woodland planting project in BCP

Trees Outside Woodland planting project in BCP

Published 02 January, updated 01 September 2026

The Project

The project aims to increase the tree canopy cover across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP), in open spaces and on nature reserves, delivering environmental and social benefits, fostering community engagement and promoting sustainable practices.

In doing so we contribute to the vision described in BCP’s Urban Forest Strategy which challenges that by 2050, ‘Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole will be home to a sustainable urban forest delivering benefits to people and wildlife in every neighbourhood, according to its character and needs.’

In 2025 the team secured a grant of £37,500 for planting hedges and trees from The Tree Council’s Trees Outside Woodland Fund. The fund supports the delivery of the Government’s Environmental Improvement Plan goal to increase England’s overall tree canopy from 14.5% to 16.5% of total land area by 2050.

Newly planted trees at Baiter, February 2026

Over the early months of 2026 a total of 12,500 trees and hedge whips were planted; 10,500 of those purchased with Tree Council funding, and a further 2,000 seedlings gifted by the National Highways community trees programme through the Tree Council.

Planting was led by BCP’s Ranger team, with the majority of work carried out by our invaluable greenspace volunteers who came out in all weathers.

Tree planting at Baiter

Planting sites include:

Erlin Farm, Muscliff: 500m of hedge and an orchard planted
Turbary Common, Bournemouth: 2,000 seedlings gifted by National Highways planted on a field adjacent to the common
Stour Valley grazing area: 200 trees planted as a shelterbelt for the grazing animals
Throop SANG: 70m of hedge planting
Two Riversmeet SANG: 100m of hedge planting
Hengistbury Head: 600m of hedge planting
Woodland Walk, Boscombe: 100m of hedge planting
Moore Avenue Park: 4 individual trees planted
Baiter Recreation Ground: 100m of hedge planting and some individual trees.

Planting ranges from standard trees for the orchard and shelterbelt, to whips for the hedgerows. All stock is native and climate-resilient, sourced from businesses certified by the Plant Healthy scheme, with species carefully selected for each site’s specific conditions and ecological value.

Hedgerows have been planted in double rows for maximum thickness, which is beneficial for wildlife. The tree guards used are biodegradable and stakes made from sustainable, recyclable materials.