GreenVET pathway

Tree Partnership in the Neighbourhood

Trees play a big role in making cities greener, cooler, and more livable. This best practice encourages students and staff to take care of the trees around the school"by watering, planting, and maintaining nearby green areas.

Key People and Partners Involved

Students
Teachers
Local municipality
NGOs or local environmental grroups for expertise
Neighbourhood members

Description of the practice

Trees are essential for healthy, sustainable cities. They provide shade, cool the air, reduce flooding by soaking up rainwater, and help clean the air. Around school campuses, they can also make outdoor spaces nicer for learning, socializing, or relaxing.

In this practice, the school "adopts" the trees in the surrounding neighborhood"taking small but important actions like watering them during dry months, planting new ones, or caring for tree beds and soil. It"s a simple and powerful way to connect students with their local environment and give them ownership of green spaces.

By working with local partners like the city, environmental groups, or nearby residents, schools can strengthen ties with the community. Plus, students learn real-world skills and environmental responsibility, while also helping boost biodiversity"trees provide homes and food for birds, insects, and other urban wildlife.

Where it’s being implemented

This link might not lead to content in English language. Use your browser's translate function or automatic captions to explore this resource.

“Leipzig Gießt” is a community-driven initiative in Leipzig, Germany, that uses a smartphone app to help citizens identify and water thirsty street trees during dry periods. It involves local residents, schools, and organizations working together to care for urban trees by tracking watering efforts and promoting tree adoption programs.
https://stiftung-ecken-wecken.de/projekte/leipzig-giesst
Gieß den Kiez Berlin is a citizen-led program that organizes volunteers to regularly water and care for street trees in their neighborhoods to help keep the urban greenery healthy.
https://www.giessdenkiez.de/map"treeAgeMax=200&lang=de&lat=52.494590307846366&lng=13.388836926491992

Impact and Results

Healthier, longer-living urban trees
Increased biodiversity in the school's surroundings
More engaged and environmentally aware students
Cooler, greener school neighborhoods
Stronger ties between school and local community

Implementation Tips and Insights

Pick a few trees nearby - Start small by choosing trees on the street or around the school you can take care of.
Make it fun and regular - Set up a weekly watering day or tree check-in as part of class or club time.
Talk to the city - Find out who owns the trees and if the municipality can help with tools, compost, or even signs.
Get creative - Add mulch, plant flowers around tree beds, or make small signs explaining the tree's name or benefits.
Team up - Work with local groups, neighbors, or parents to share the care and build community pride.

Useful Links and Resources

This link might not lead to content in English language. Use your browser's translate function or automatic captions to explore this resource. i-Tree is a free set of online tools developed by the US Forest Service that helps communities measure and understand the benefits of their trees, like air quality improvement and stormwater reduction. It provides data and reports that support better planning and management of urban forests to maximize their environmental and social value.
https://www.itreetools.org/