Urban Pioneers is the landscape architect appointed by the Forth Climate Forest (FCF) to develop tree and wildflower planting plans with communities in Grahamston, Middlefield, and Westfield. They are holding a series of community engagement activities (both online and in-person), including a community walk on Saturday 19 September, 2pm – 3:30pm, which will begin at Thornhill Community Hall, Thornhill Road, Falkirk, FK2 7AE.

During the walk, the Urban Pioneers team will be speaking with community members to identify locations where trees could be planted, as well as about different varieties of trees for the area, and the benefits of tree planting. Everyone is welcome to join the walk, which is free to attend.

Forth Climate Forest

The Forth Climate Forest (FCF) is the largest tree planting initiative in the Forth Valley area. Working with land managers, communities, and partner organisations, the initiative aims to support extensive tree planting alongside wildlife-friendly measures, such as pollinator patches and wildflower corridors. FCF aims to plant 16 million trees by 2033, with 3,390,840 trees already planted (as of March 2026).

From September 2026, Urban Pioneers will be working with residents across five areas of the Forth Valley to develop and deliver FCF’s Strategy for Tree Equity and Pollinator Stepping Stones (STEPSS) initiative. These 5 regions have been identified to increase tree planting and achieve a 20% tree canopy within each area:

Grangemouth (Falkirk District)
Grahamston, Middlefield, and Westfield (Falkirk District)
Bainsford, Langlees, and New Carron (Falkirk District)
Raploch (Stirlingshire)
Sauchie (Clackmannanshire)

Other Ways to Get Involved

In addition to the community walk, Urban Pioneers has set up a Padlet page, where residents can learn more about the project in their area, and submit their suggested locations for tree and wildflower planting. These suggestions can be submitted via the online feedback form, or the Padlet page linked above.

Opportunities for Local Residents

In addition to feeding into tree and wildflower planting locations, residents can also access free trees to plant in their own gardens, while local organisations (such as community groups, schools, and community centres) can access free trees to be planted on their premises.

For further information on this opportunity, please contact Urban Pioneers by email: mail@urbanpioneers.co.uk

Further Information

For further information on the Forth Climate Forest, please visit the dedicated page on the University of Stirling website. Alternatively, visit the Urban Pioneers’ Linktree page, or contact the team by email: mail@urbanpioneers.co.uk