10 - Why Is It So Hard to Plant a Street Tree? with Kitty Thompson

Why is it so hard to plant a tree on your own street? In this episode, I'm joined by Kitty Thompson, Head of Policy and Campaigns at the Create Streets Foundation, a charity helping communities create beautiful, thriving places to live. Kitty shares the findings of the Foundation's thermal imaging study through Lambeth and Southwark on a hot July afternoon, where shaded surfaces were dramatically cooler than those in full sun. A hopscotch grid in the shade measured 26.9°C, while the one in the sun reached 53.2°C, and a piece of children's climbing equipment hit 59.1°C. We dig into the Highways Act 1980 and the licensing system for planting trees on the highway, where fees range from around £136 to over £3,500 depending on where you live, often with £10 million of public liability insurance required on top. Kitty explains why the Create Streets Foundation believes we should flip the system on its head and give people a right to plant, and shares the story of a long-running effort to bring 30 street trees to Rutland Street in Grimsby. We also talk about council risk aversion, who takes responsibility for street trees over time, the tension between national tree planting targets and local barriers, and practical tips for anyone who wants to campaign for a change in the law. In this episode: What thermal imaging reveals about trees and urban heat The Highways Act 1980 and tree planting licences Why licence fees and insurance vary so wildly between councils Risk aversion, liability and protecting the street trees we already have How to start a campaign for legal change Kitty's favourite tree, grown from a seed with her granddad If you'd like a tree outside your home, Kitty's advice is simple: don't let a blank council webpage stop you. Email them, ask the question, and share your story if you succeed. 🎙️ Enjoying the podcast? I’d love to hear your thoughts. You can leave me a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/treelaw – your questions or reflections might even feature in a future episode. 🎧 Huge thanks to Mike at Making Digital Real for producing and editing this episode to such a high standard.