The University of Manchester has partnered with City of Trees, a charity dedicated to “greening” Greater Manchester, which will see the planting of 200 trees to mark the University’s 200th anniversary.
The University also partnered with the charity during the Times Higher Education World Academic Summit in October 2024, donating a total of £1,500 to City of Trees on behalf of each attending delegate.
City of Trees will plant a tree for each delegate, reflecting how “international colleagues continue to be a crucial part of the growth and development of both the University and the city”.
Manchester City Council is currently prioritising the expansion of tree coverage, as it moves forward with the third phase of its 10-year Tree and Woodland Action Plan.
This initiative aims to increase the city’s tree coverage from its current level of 19% to 22%, which will require an estimated 64,000 new trees, equivalent to 320 hectares of new canopy coverage.
According to the charity and Manchester City Council, the value that trees provide the city annually is estimated to be £3 million.
City of Trees emphasise the several benefits of more green spaces and trees, including their ability to absorb and store carbon, reduce noise pollution, filter out air pollutants, and provide shade to cool temperatures by releasing water vapour from leaves.
In addition to environmental benefits, increasing green spaces and tree coverage has been shown to improve mental health. Spending time in nature can “boost serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain, contributing to happiness and well-being”.
Students at the University have spoken about the lack of green space on campus, saying: “Whilst Manchester’s architecture can be impressive to look at, it does not provide the same feeling of comfort as nature does. [..] Over the course of the term, I found that being constantly surrounded by roads, streets, buildings, and cars would affect my mood”.
The University’s international relations team signed the first agreement between The University of Manchester and the City of Trees in early 2024.
