Across the Borough, thousands of trees add to Bedford’s unique character and are the building blocks for our environment.
Trees help us in lots of ways, by improving our air, providing us with shade, bringing communities together, boosting biodiversity, reducing flooding, helping our mental health and adding to our economy.
Bedford Borough Council works hard to manage the Borough's trees and to help make it a nicer place by planting more.
Here is some more information on ways that you can enjoy, get involved or report any issue with trees across the Borough.
The Queen’s Green Canopy
Bedford Borough is helping celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with the Queen’s Green Canopy project. After 70 years on the throne and planting many trees, Her Royal Highness marked her last Jubilee with a tree planting and protection project.
To mark this Bedford Borough Council has planted a tree in every ward and created new woodlands and many more projects.
How can you get involved? You can organise a tree planting event with your local community group, school or Parish Council. You can read more on the Queen’s Canopy web page.
The Big Tree Giveaway
The Big Tree Giveaway returns this year with another 5,000 free trees for people within Bedford Borough to plant on their own land in order to promote a healthy and green environment, combat climate change and support Her Majesty’s planting aims.
Up to five trees are available for residents to plant in their gardens. Woodland packs of 25 with biodegradable rabbit guards and stakes (woodland packs only) are available for schools, businesses and community groups.
Collection will be on a first come first serve basis at Oasis Pools, Cardington Road on Wednesday 15 February and Saturday 18 February 2023, from 10am to 3pm.
Please come early as once the trees allocated for each day are gone the site will close and remember to bring a reusable plastic bag to prevent roots from drying out.
Please check out our FAQ and species guide (PDF) for more information.
Sponsor a tree
Bedford Borough Council is now offering residents the chance to sponsor a new tree in a street location of your choosing (subject to survey) or a local park. We’ve joined the national scheme, Trees for Streets, to make it easy for residents to make a contribution to towards a new tree.
Find out more visit our page on the Tree for Street website.
Help us water a tree
If you spot a newly planted tree with support stakes you can help by watering the tree during the summer months. In the first year of planting trees need watering once or twice a week, in the second year, every other week and from the third year onwards, only when it is hot and dry. Giving the tree a good drink with 20 litres of water is better than little and often.
Follow a tree trail
We currently have tree trails in Bedford Park, Addison Howard Park and Jubilee Park with more on the way. Tree trails are a great way to learn a bit about some of our parks and the most significant trees.
Volunteer on our planting days
Each year Bedford Borough Council plants thousands of trees in our parks and greenspaces. For a great day out in the fresh air, a chance to leave your mark on the borough and a way to help the environment, come and plant trees with us. Contact volunteering@bedford.gov.uk to book a slot on one of the events detailed below and see our volunteer page for other volunteer groups.
|
Date and Location |
What3words |
Description |
Volunteer slots available |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Browns Wood 4 January 10.30am and 12.30pm |
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3500 trees to be planted over 3.5 hectares of land including woodland, wood pasture and an orchard. |
200 |
|
Longholme Way 21 January at 9.30am, 11am (full) and 1pm (full) |
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Bedford’s first Miyawaki project. 3200 trees planted close together to create a mini forest within 10 years. |
150 |
|
Maskell Drive 26 January at 10.30am and 12.30pm |
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1600 trees in the northern area of Maskell Drive to increase woodland plots. |
100 |
|
Duchess Road 3 February at 10.30am |
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120 trees improving the local environment and helping to reduce noise pollution. |
10 |
|
Thor Drive - date to be confirmed |
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110 trees, increasing diversity in the Thor drive greenspace. |
10 |
Blossom Circle
Bedford Borough's National Trust Blossom Circle in Bowhill Park is a wonderful place to commemorate those lost to the Covid-19 pandemic and remember the sacrifices that we all made. Bowhill Park is also a beautiful attraction in the spring that reminds us of new life each year.
Community orchards
There are community orchards in Queen’s Park near Woodstock Road and Lancaster Road that will provide a great habitat for wildlife and delicious fruits for residents in the autumn. In 2021 we are adding another community orchard to Eastcotts Road.
Sakura Cherry Tree Project
The Sakura Cherry Tree Project is to mark the 150 years of Japan-UK friendship. The project was launched by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Prime Minister Theresa May and has donated trees to Jubilee Park to celebrate the beautiful blossom famously produced by Japan's trees for years to come.
Share your favourite trees in Bedford Borough
Bedford Borough has trees that inspire beauty and majesty, we also enjoy many trees with great seasonal interest.
Day out in the woods?
Bedford Borough is fortunate enough to have beautiful woodland nearby, some of these are Ancient Semi- Natural woodlands. These include Putnoe wood, Clapham Park wood, Berry wood, Browns wood, Yelnow wood and Dog Field. For more publicly accessible woods, visit our partner The Forest of Marston Vale.
Report an issue
You can report an issue with a highway or parks tree, including a private tree you feel may be dangerous.
TPO and protected trees
Visit our page on TPOs and protected trees for more information.