This year, the City of Tallinn will plant 3,500 trees in parks, courtyards, and along streets—matching the number of new little Tallinn residents expected to be born in 2025. It marks the city’s largest-ever tree-planting initiative, aimed at creating a healthier and greener urban environment.
“We’re planting a record number of trees across the city this year to make Tallinn’s public spaces more attractive. Trees enrich our living environment, and residents are increasingly calling for more greenery—not only in parks but also along streets and open lawns,” said Mayor of Tallinn Jevgeni Ossinovski.
“Trees also help mitigate the effects of intensifying heatwaves by offering shade and reducing the urban heat island effect. When we plant trees, we’re shaping the city for the next century. That’s why we want to symbolically connect this initiative with the new generation of Tallinn residents being born this year,” Ossinovski added. “Tree planting has long been part of how families mark meaningful life events. This year, the city will plant trees together with residents, building a lasting bond between the people of Tallinn and their city.”
The tree planting will take place this spring and autumn across 193 designated locations throughout the city—including courtyards, green areas, and streetsides. This spring, the city will mostly plant flowering cherry trees (120), apple trees (89), crabapple trees (63), various rowan trees (65), and spruces (64), alongside other species such as pines, larches/firs, hawthorns, birches, lindens (38), oaks, maples, and bird cherries. The planting sites were selected in collaboration with local district governments based on local needs. The full map of planting locations is available on the project’s website: https://www.tallinn.ee/et/puud/kuhu-puid-istutame.
For the next two years (2026–2027), the newly planted trees will be maintained by a contractor selected through public procurement, with oversight from the Tallinn Urban Environment and Public Works Department.
“Nature is, of course, breathtakingly beautiful—but green urban space is no longer just about aesthetics. There’s a vast body of research showing that greenery significantly supports our well-being, learning, and health,” said education and environmental psychologist Grete Arro. “For example, green environments improve self-regulation, focus, working memory, and the effort needed for learning. We can’t assume everyone has access to forests every day—so cities must bring nature to people’s doorsteps. There needs to be more lush greenery not only in parks but also along streets, in courtyards, playgrounds, and even parking lots. Access to nature is a human right,” Arro emphasized.
In May and June, Tallinn will organize community planting events in every city district. Everyone who values strong community ties and green public spaces is welcome to join. “Community planting days are a great chance to learn and get your hands dirty—we’ll share practical knowledge on how to plant and care for trees to help them grow long and healthy lives. There will also be discussions on the importance of greenery, and after the planting work, participants can enjoy some well-earned refreshments,” said Kristiina Kupper, project manager at the Tallinn Strategic Management Office Centre.
Information on planting times and locations is available on the project website: https://www.tallinn.ee/et/puud/loo-kaasa
Source: tallinn.ee
