Parks and Open Spaces Tree Planting Strategy, Borough of Barking and Dagenham

The Barking and Dagenham Tree Planting Strategy sets out a borough-wide approach to expanding and improving tree canopy cover across parks, streets, and open spaces. It highlights the critical role trees play in supporting health and wellbeing, improving air quality, reducing urban heat, and strengthening biodiversity and climate resilience.

The strategy is informed by a detailed assessment of existing tree stock and green infrastructure quality across the borough’s parks and identifies opportunities for targeted tree planting, restoration, and long-term canopy expansion. It links tree planting priorities to wider borough strategies, including health, housing growth, and environmental resilience.

A key focus of the strategy is increasing canopy cover in line with London-wide targets, while balancing the needs of sports provision, access, and other park uses. It also identifies priority sites where tree planting can deliver the greatest environmental and social return, particularly in areas experiencing poorer health outcomes and lower green infrastructure quality.

The strategy also demonstrates the wide-ranging benefits of trees, including carbon sequestration, cooling urban temperatures, improving mental and physical health, and supporting economic value through ecosystem services. It positions trees as essential natural capital assets that contribute directly to the borough’s long-term sustainability and liveability.