Our Branching Out Story
We are excited to present our Story map focused on new routes to valuing urban treescapes. In it we start by asking ‘what value means to you’, and how values can be measured in different ways through monetary means or via carbon stored etc. But we all know that trees provide many benefits to people and that the values people hold for trees can be expressed in multiple and diverse ways. For example, trees in our towns and cities allow us to feel connected to nature, contribute to our wellbeing, they are our largest living plants and aesthetically enhance city landscapes. In our research we wanted to explore these social and cultural values, so we engaged with the public and decision makers in our three focal cities of Cardiff, York, and Milton Keynes.
In our Story Map you can explore how tree cover has changed in York from the past to the present.
You can discover quotes from citizens in Cardiff who told us stories about trees across the city. These highlight that people are interested in having more trees, that trees are a source of civic pride and that old and large trees are particularly memorable. They also show that parks and woodland are very much linked to physical health and people wanting to get outdoors and be active, as well as being places to socialise with friends and family.
We have also started to map tree values across our cities identifying tree characteristics that are associated with the different values our citizens have expressed, and we highlight some created imagined narratives for future treescapes.
So do dig in and explore our interactive Story Map to find out more.