The Tree Council was founded in 1974, with government backing, as the umbrella body for UK organisations involved in tree planting, care and conservation. The idea was to keep up the momentum of National Tree Planting Year 1973 (with its slogan of “Plant a Tree in ‘73”). Today The Tree Council’s members range from professional non-governmental specialist and trade organisations, including other conservation charities, to local authorities and government bodies.

One of The Tree Council’s first actions (in 1975) was to organise National Tree Week and since then members of the royal family, including The Queen and Queen Mother, every Prime Minister at Chequers, and many more public figures have planted trees on behalf of The Tree Council as part of the winter planting festival. National Tree Week has become the UK’s largest annual celebration of trees and woods. More recently we have introduced other annual initiatives such as the Tree Care Campaign, Walk In The Woods month and Seed Gathering Season and further developed our work with our member organisations encouraging networking and collaboration.

The Tree Council became a registered charity in 1978.

Registered Charity No. 279000. Registered in England and Wales.  Limited Company Registration No. 1459056.