Sponsor a tree

Tree sponsorship is likely to cost in the region of £575 per tree including VAT. The price includes the purchase of the tree, equipment (such as watering bags and tree stakes), planting and maintenance. Please note that the indicative price is based on averages and that the actual cost will vary subject to the species selected. A full quote will be finalised and sent to you as part of the sponsorship process.

Once your form has been submitted, the council will review your request and assess whether your preferred location is suitable for tree planting. We will then contact you to discuss suitable planting options, tree species and the confirmed cost before you decide whether to proceed. No commitment is made until the details and cost have been agreed with you.

Once the cost has been confirmed and you have agreed to proceed, the council will provide details of how to make payment. Payment must be received before the tree is ordered and added to the planting programme.

We will confirm in writing once your sponsored tree has been planted.

Newly planted trees require a period of intensive aftercare to become successfully established. Your sponsorship will provide three years' maintenance which is widely regarded as best practice, as it allows sufficient time for the tree to develop a sustainable root system, recover from transplant shock and adapt to site conditions. During this establishment period, regular watering, weed control, mulch management, stake and tie adjustments and formative pruning are essential to maximise survival and healthy growth.

We will do our best to accommodate this. When you fill out the Tree Sponsorship form, please provide details of your preferred location (house number, road name and ward, or a What3Words location) so that the location’s viability can be assessed. Residents may only request a sponsored street tree where there is either an existing vacant tree pit or a suitable grass verge that can accommodate a new tree. It may not be possible to plant a tree in your preferred location; if this is the case, we will suggest some viable alternative locations from you to choose from. 

Viability will take into factors including:

• The presence of underground services and utilities, such as gas, water, electricity or telecommunications infrastructure.
• Insufficient space for the tree to grow and mature safely.
• Potential conflicts with buildings, boundary walls, street lighting, CCTV cameras or other street furniture.
• Adverse impacts on road safety, pedestrian access or visibility at junctions
• Existing ecological, environmental or landscape constraints, including unsuitable ground conditions.
• The location being reserved for other uses.
• Any other consideration that would affect the long-term viability of the tree.

If you have a preferred species of tree in mind, please let us know when you submit your Tree Sponsorship form. Please note that the tree species will need to be compatible with the preferred location, so we may suggest some alternative suitable tree species for you to select from. Bromley Council buy high-quality trees from established UK nurseries which include the required UK plant health passport. Trees are usually 6 to 8ft tall about 2 to 3cm in girth at the soil line and arrive with an established root ball.

Residents should be aware that tree planting season in the UK is November to the end of March every year. The council does not plant outside of this period as the tree would have a diminished chance of survival.

If you would like to be present for the planting of your sponsored tree, we can arrange this with you. Family and friends are also welcome to attend. Please note that tree planting will take place on week-day mornings.

While we appreciate that many residents may wish to mark a special occasion or remember a loved one through their sponsored tree, Bromley Council does not permit the installation or placement of plaques, decorations, flowers, memorial items, or the scattering/burial of human or pet ashes on or around trees.

This policy helps protect the health and appearance of the tree, maintain public safety and ensure that our public spaces remain welcoming and accessible for everyone.

Our trees have a warranty for the first year and will be replaced if it should fail to establish. However, please note Bromley Council unfortunately cannot replace the tree free of charge if it succumbs due to vandalism or fails to establish after the initial 1-year guarantee period.

No. Sponsorship does not confer ownership or exclusive rights over the tree or the surrounding area. Instead, sponsorship provides an opportunity to contribute to the borough and leave a lasting environmental legacy that will benefit our communities and wildlife for years to come.