City of Trees nurtures nature and community

City of Trees

With a grant of nearly £97,000 from the npower Business Solutions (nBS) Foundation, City of Trees kickstarted the redevelopment of a former horticultural centre into a dedicated hub for green skills. The Barnfield Nursery has the capacity to produce up to 20,000 trees a year, while encouraging stronger community connections and creating routes into environmental careers for those from diverse backgrounds.

When community action takes root

City of Trees is an environmental charity based in Greater Manchester, focused on restoring the region’s urban forest. It plants trees and manages existing woodlands to create better, greener places, boost health and wellbeing, enhance green skills, and tackle the climate and biodiversity emergency.

Speaking about the charity’s mission, Alex Bedford, Head of Partnerships, said: “We’re passionate about making our region even better, one tree at a time. While we plant thousands of trees each year, our goal is to create a true ‘culture of trees’ by involving everyone - from businesses and schools to local community groups - in the journey of growing and protecting our urban forest.”

While its work spans the entire city-region, City of Trees identified a unique opportunity at a site in Barnfield. Formerly a horticultural centre, the run-down location had the potential to become a central hub for its Citizen Forester volunteer programme.

However, the challenge was significant. The Barnfield site had fallen into disrepair and lacked the basic infrastructure needed to host community activities safely, such as running water, hygienic cleaning facilities, and secure storage for equipment.

Investing in the right infrastructure and expertise

City of Trees received a grant of almost £97,000 from the nBS Foundation, providing the essential money needed to transform the site into Barnfield Nursery. 

With a long-term vision of turning the space into an urban forestry skill centre, the investment has allowed City of Trees to fund two full-time members of staff, including an Engagement Officer that can spend more time working with local communities.

The grant has also made possible a range of other far-reaching and essential improvements.

Innovative systems and processes:
●    Installing a professional irrigation system to automate watering, freeing up staff time
●    Introducing a cell-grown production system for growing trees, moving away from more labour-intensive, field-grown methods
●    Using plastic pallets to raise growing trays, so volunteers can work at a comfortable height
●    Constructing a professional new potting shed, which features built-in ducting for future electricity and Wi-Fi connectivity

Broader staff and volunteer facilities:
●    Providing kitchen appliances and furniture to create a dedicated break room for staff and volunteers, where they can prepare food and drinks
●    Installing hand washers and dryers, giving people access to hygienic facilities when handling soil and compost
●    Buying a wide range of high-quality tools, alongside a secure, racked storage unit to keep them safe
●    Investing in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), to make sure all site activities are undertaken safely
●    Providing first aid equipment to support a safe working environment
●    Enhancing site security through new door hardware
●    Purchasing new power tools, which were instrumental in the construction and ongoing development of the nursery
●    Upgrading bathroom fixtures to modernise on-site facilities
●    Installing a Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) cupboard, so essential chemicals can be stored away safely and compliantly
●    Setting up a whiteboard to enhance teaching, planning, and coordination during community workshops

Alex added: “It’s rare to find a fund that mixes capital and revenue funding in this way. If we had only built the infrastructure, we would be left with a great site but no one to run it. Instead, we have been able to both transform Barnfield Nursery and employ specialists that can lead the community engagement which is at the very heart of this project.”

A growing legacy for Greater Manchester

The Barnfield project will see impactful results in two key areas:

●    Ecological: the nursery is expected to supply 20% of the charity’s total annual planting stock by 2027
●    Social: the nursery has already proven to be a transformative space for mental health and wellbeing. Through a partnership with Back on Track, a  Manchester-based charity that helps adults overcome disadvantages through training and education, more than 80 hours of practical conservation sessions have taken place so far

Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive. One said, “I enjoyed seeing the difference our work made,” while another commented: “I loved learning about conservation and looking after trees. It really helped my mental wellbeing to be in nature.”

Moving forward, it’s estimated that Barnfield Nursery will be able to engage with approximately 700 people every year, through regular volunteering sessions, training opportunities, and community events.

Alex concludes: “The Barnfield project lets us look far beyond just putting trees in the ground; it’s about the science of resilience. By collecting and growing local seeds, we’re ensuring the woodlands we plant today are genetically adapted to thrive in our changing climate. 

“What’s more, the nursery gives the people of Greater Manchester a chance to be part of the entire life cycle of a forest, from a single seed to a thriving urban canopy."