Urban Tree and Green Space Calculation Tool Gives Clarity on Priority City Areas in Urgent Need of Greening Initiatives

The 3+30+300 was introduced in 2021 by Cecil Konijnendijk, co-founder of the Nature Based Solutions Institute and has since gained considerable traction with urban planners, and environmentalists. It provides a guideline for urban greening recognising the need for proximity to trees and urban nature for everyone in order to see the full benefits trees can provide.

In simple terms the rule states that there should be three trees, 30 per cent canopy coverage, and green space within 300 metres of all residential and workplace buildings.

Bluesky has taken this rule to create a tool within its unique National Tree Map (NTM) that is now accessible enabling urban planners and environmental consultants to accurately assess priority areas for greening initiatives.

Good looks like all buildings in a given neighbourhood meeting 100% for all three of the rules. However, a snapshot analysis of some of the UK’s cities using the new Bluesky tool shows our urban areas are falling considerably short of this recommendation.

Using the new Bluesky NTM add-on tool, users will quickly be able to assess the percentage of buildings meeting one, two or three aspects of the rule. The Bluesky analysis tool has been piloted by Aberdeenshire Council with positive feedback. It is now being made available as an additional tool for NTM customers.