The future of our city trees

Posted on Thursday 25 June 2026

What will the future look like for the trees in our towns and cities?

At the 2026 York Festival of Ideas, visitors teamed up with researchers from the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and the University of York for Fresh Air, Fresh Roots: Explore, Play and Learn. This interactive session used the board game Urban Labor-a-Tree to explore what lies ahead for urban trees.

The family-friendly gaming session, held on 7 June at Campus East, University of York, invited everyone to become architects of greener cities. Developed by researchers at the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) under a York Environment Sustainability Institute 2025 Discipline Hopping Fellowship, the game challenges players to design inclusive urban treescapes. Rather than simply placing trees at random, participants were challenged to navigate the real-world complexities of urban planning, balancing climate resilience, local wildlife, and the needs of various human stakeholders.

Player feedback highlighted how the game opened new ways of thinking about urban trees. One participant described the session as “really enjoyable”, adding that it provided “fun learning of a subject I know little about but want to know more.” Another noted that the game encouraged players to think beyond simply planting trees and consider the many stakeholders and actions involved in creating thriving urban treescapes. A third noted how invested the group became as the afternoon progressed: "We got very into it. We particularly enjoyed the local aspect of playing the game."

Urban Labor-a-Tree uses play to start conversations about the social, cultural, and ecological importance of trees. Looking back on the event, SEI researcher and project lead Joanne Morris said: “It was fantastic to see people of all ages engaging so enthusiastically with the game. The discussions around competing priorities and shared values showed how play can create inclusive spaces for learning and dialogue. The feedback from Festival of Ideas participants reinforces the potential of Urban Labor-a-Tree as a tool for communities, schools and decision-makers to imagine greener and more equitable urban futures together.”

The event showed that games can turn complex environmental issues into experiences that are easy to understand and fun, sparking new conversations about the places we all share.