Original photo by CHUNYIP WONG/ iStock
It’s easy to think of major cities such as London and New York as sprawling grids of concrete, brick, and metal — but it may surprise you to learn that both cities also maintain roughly 20% tree canopy cover. That’s an urban forest of more than 8.4 million trees across Greater London and approximately 7 million trees in New York City. While other major cities have even higher tree canopy coverage — including Oslo at ~72%, Atlanta at ~50%, and Singapore at ~29% — what sets London and New York apart is the amount of greenery they contain given their massive size, population density, and global urban footprint.
The London plane, a hybrid tree that received its name from its ability to withstand the city’s air pollution during the Industrial Revolution, is the most common street tree in both London and New York City. Other widely planted species include sycamore, oak, and silver birch in London and littleleaf linden, Norway maple, and green ash in NYC.
Oops, incorrect!
It's a factTrees use underground mycorrhizal fungi networks to exchange nutrients and send chemical signals — even warning nearby trees about pests or disease. The phenomenon is known as the “wood wide web.”
These urban trees aren’t just decorative. They reduce air pollution, lower urban temperatures, and absorb stormwater that would otherwise flood drains. In New York alone, trees remove around 1,100 tons of air pollution each year and intercept more than 890 million gallons of stormwater, easing pressure on the city’s infrastructure.
Greater London’s trees provide around £132.7 million worth of ecosystem services annually, which include air purification, temperature regulation, building energy savings, and rainwater interception. And of course, tree cover also supports and shelters city wildlife. So while their skylines may steal the spotlight, it’s the tree canopy that quietly keeps these cities cooler, cleaner, and more inviting.
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The London plane is a hybrid of the ______ and the Oriental plane.
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The London plane is a hybrid of the American sycamore and the Oriental plane.
Tree Preservation Orders have been protecting U.K. trees since 1947.
Introduced under the Town and Country Planning Act 1947, Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) give local authorities in the U.K. the power to legally protect specific trees, groups of trees, or woodlands if their removal would negatively impact the local environment or public enjoyment.
TPOs make it an offense to cut down, top, lop, uproot, or willfully damage a protected tree without permission. Today, thousands of trees across London are safeguarded by TPOs, ensuring the city’s urban forest continues to thrive for generations to come.
Kristina is a coffee-fueled writer living happily ever after with her family in the suburbs of Richmond, Virginia.
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