The Tree Council
Analysis
The Tree Council is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in December 1979, 47 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under environment and conservation. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 01459056). It says it makes grants to organisations, provides advocacy/advice/information and acts as an umbrella or resource body.
In the financial year ending March 2025, The Tree Council reported income of £2.8m and spending of £2.4m, spending 86% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £1.3m to £2.8m (+113%), an average of +21% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2022, when income rose by 116%. Over the whole period it spent 95% of the income it received.
Among 4,574 England and Wales charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, The Tree Council sits at the 97th percentile: it is larger than about 97% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 97th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Durham Wildlife Trust (£2.8m), Norfolk Rivers Trust (£2.8m) and The British Institute of International and Comparative Law (£2.7m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 91% and donations and legacies 7.4%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £1,403. Charitable activities took 94% of spending and raising funds 4.2%. Grants to other organisations totalled £754k. Reserves of £1.2m would cover about 6 months of spending at that rate. It employed 23 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 7.4%
- Legacies 0.1%
- Charitable activities 91%
- Investments 0.9%
- Other 0.6%
In the charity's own words
The Tree Council works towards making trees matter to people; more trees, of the right kind, in the right places; better care for all trees of all ages and inspiring effective action for trees. An umbrella body and a forum for tackling issues relating to trees and woods, it promotes the improvement of the environment by the planting and conservation of trees and woods throughout the UK.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Durham Wildlife Trust | Tyne and Wear | £2.8m |
| Norfolk Rivers Trust | Holt | £2.8m |
| The British Institute of International and Comparative Law | London | £2.7m |
| The Great Dixter Charitable Trust | East Sussex | £2.8m |