Public Perceptions of Urban Trees

The aim of this project is to provide a statistically robust contemporary perspective on individuals' attitudes to trees in the urban landscape.

The research will investigate individual receptiveness and understanding of key messages about, and support for, planting, management and maintenance of urban trees. It will also compare the value of urban trees with other urban habitats, including managing or removing trees for other biodiversity or societal benefits. The evidence collected will help inform local and national government, managers of infrastructure, and environmental organisations and professionals.

Research objectives

• Produce a synthesis of existing research and evidence to create a state-of-the-art overview of public perceptions of urban trees.
• Organise meetings with key stakeholders to understand their evidence needs and use these to shape research questions, analysis approach, reporting, and onward communication.
• Generate in-depth qualitative data from focus groups that reveals key issues and topics around urban trees.
• Use a national survey to generate statistically robust evidence about individual’s views of urban trees, disaggregated by spatial and socio-demographic characteristics.