Communi-trees
Establishing Camden’s first fruit orchards
A grassroots climate action project, we’re working directly with local estates to plant trees and fruit orchards, to create greener, healthier environments.
Communi-trees
Establishing Camden’s first fruit orchards
A grassroots climate action project, we’re working directly with local estates to plant trees and fruit orchards, to create greener, healthier environments.
A climate action project
Communi-trees connects local residents with nature, acting as a springboard for climate action while simultaneously greening the borough, enriching biodiversity, improving health and wellbeing, and alleviating the impacts of climate change.
A flagship KOKO Foundation project in partnership with Think & Do and Camden County Council, we have established self-governed mini forests across eleven local estates, including two orchards.
As well as the many ecological benefits, at the heart of this project is an opportunity to educate and inspire others to become custodians of our planet. For each of our Communi-trees sites, we appoint local young people ‘KOKO Foresters’ who are trained and paid for maintaining the trees.
The initiative has already gained recognition from the Mayor of London, with the program being highlighted as a case study in the Urban Forest Partnership, 2024.
Breaking ground…
In 2022, the KOKO Foundation created Communi-trees, planting 20 mature trees across two estates in partnership with Camden council and Think & Do. The first two foresters were appointed. In 2023, 70 more communi-trees were planted across six more estates. We are now on to our 12th estate, maintained by a brilliant team of 20 KOKO Foresters.
Camden’s first orchards…
In 2023 together with Think & Do and Camden Council Green Spaces, we co-designed a pioneering orchard project, which is now being rolled out in the borough.
A total of 82 trees have been planted across two estates, including apple, pear and plum (selected by the residents), and hawthorns which provide habitats and support over 300 types of insect. A new ‘relaxed mow’ system has been implemented to encourage wildflowers and increase further biodiversity in the orchards, which, like all of our projects, are maintained by KOKO Foresters.
Taking root…
The power of Communi-trees stretches far beyond the borough, and we’re only just getting started! Over 200 trees have now been planted, with soil testing underway for our next edible fruit orchards in 2025.
Find our self-governed forests throughout the borough:
- Peckwater Estate, NW5
- Goldington Estate, NW1
- Templar House, NW2
- Bourne Estate, EC1N
- Regents park Estate, NW1
- Maitland Park Estate, NW3
- Bayham Estate, NW1
- Clarence Way, NW1
- Abbey Green Estate, NW8
- Mortimer Estate, NW6
