Why having a favourite tree is good for you, me, and the tree

Yesterday, the National Trust announced the finalists for Victorian Tree of the Year 2026. Among the nine finalists are some absolute stunners, including a Ginkgo biloba planted in Geelong in 1859, a Myrtle beech in Apollo Bay, and a smooth-barked apple myrtle in Prahran. But the competition isn't just about finding the biggest or most beautiful tree. According to the National Trust, it is about "celebrating the vital role trees play in enriching our lives; supporting biodiversity and wildlife; cooling the places where we live and providing cleaner air; boosting mental health and wellbeing."

In that spirit, this week's blog looks at the value of trees in our cities, the science behind how they improve our wellbeing, and how our efforts to protect and plant them are tracking.

 

What trees do for our cities

Remember your Year 5 science teacher explaining how trees take in carbon dioxide and release the oxygen we breathe? That's just the start. Some trees can absorb up to 40% of the rainwater that hits them, easing pressure on stormwater systems. Their shade can triple the lifespan of bitumen, passively cool our homes, and help combat the urban heat island effect. With research forecasting more frequent heatwaves and more days above 40 degrees, increasing tree canopy is one of the most cost-effective ways to keep our cities liveable.

What trees do for us

Trees don't just make our cities work better; they make us feel better. A study of roughly 46,000 Australian adults found that those living in neighbourhoods with at least 30%  tree canopy had 31% lower odds of developing psychological distress, a benefit not seen in areas where the green space was dominated by open grass. Part of the explanation may be phytoncides, the aromatic oils trees release. In a Japanese study, exposure to phytoncides boosted the activity of natural killer immune cells and lowered stress hormones such as adrenaline.

Trees also give neighbourhoods character and a sense of permanence, becoming familiar landmarks that help us feel connected to, and proud of, the places we call home. Melburnians know this well. When the City of Melbourne gave its trees individual email addresses in 2013 so people could report problems like damaged branches, residents instead started writing them love letters, sending more than 3,000 emails. The council called it an unintended but positive consequence, and one councillor said the emails revealed just how much Melburnians love their trees.

 

What we do for our trees

The relationship goes both ways, because a loved tree is a tree people watch over. People who notice a particular tree every day are the first to spot a broken branch or signs of stress in a dry summer. Research backs this up: in a Canberra study, around 70% of residents surveyed said they actively cared for their local street trees, with attachment to their neighbourhood as a key reason.

That care can turn into advocacy. In January 2020, Metro Trains planned to remove 10 trees at Newmarket Station over the Australia Day weekend, including a century-old river red gum protected under the Moonee Valley planning scheme. The local council, the National Trust, and residents pushed back hard. The council launched enforcement proceedings at VCAT, and locals organised action at the station. The campaign worked: in March 2020, Metro agreed to a custom engineering solution to keep the red gum and a neighbouring peppercorn tree, saying it had listened to community feedback. A tree with a fan club has a much better chance of growing old.

 

Why it matters now

Yet Melbourne's canopy is shrinking by 1 to 1.5 % each year, largely because trees on private land are being cleared for development. A 2024 YIMBY report estimated that 55 trees need to be planted for every 100 new dwellings just to maintain current canopy cover.

Promises to replace lost trees don't always hold up either. When trees were removed in the City of Melbourne for the West Gate Tunnel, the government committed to planting five new trees for every mature tree lost. So far, only 1,176 have been planted, leaving a shortfall of 2,971, and a council report has concluded the 5:1 target can't be met within the municipality.

Planting and protecting trees costs money, but we think the question needs reframing. It's not "can we afford to plant and maintain more trees?" but "can we afford not to?"

So take a look at this year's Tree of the Year finalists, and then take a walk around your own neighbourhood. If you don't already have a favourite tree, find one. It's good for you, and it just might be good for the tree.