UK: Wyevale Nurseries boosts ‘3-30-300 Rule’

Wyevale Nurseries is launching an awareness campaign centred on the '3-30-300 Rule' to highlight how urban trees and green infrastructure improve wellbeing, climate resilience and access to nature in conurbations (April 2026).

The rule, first proposed by urban forestry expert Cecil Konijnendijk in 2021, focuses on what residents can see and reach daily and doesn't just address long-term environmental targets.

Kersten Catella, Sales and Marketing Director at Hereford-based Wyevale Nurseries, one of the UK's longest‑established commercial horticultural businesses, explains: "It's one of the industry's best kept secrets and we feel we've reached the point where it needs to be in the spotlight, talked about and used.

© Wyevale Nurseries

"I often ask people a simple question: how many trees can you see from where you're sitting right now? Not in the distance, but from your desk, kitchen table or home office window.

"That's the thinking behind the 3-30-300 Rule: three trees visible from every building, 30% canopy cover in every neighbourhood and green space within 300 metres. It's a clear, human-focused way of reminding us that trees aren't a 'nice to have', they need to be part of everyday life in our towns and cities.

"What's striking is how many people in the amenity and horticultural are still unfamiliar with the 3-30-300 Rule, some have never heard of it, others know the phrase but not what it really means in practice. That's why we want to promote the concept and have launched out awareness boosting campaign.

"For those of us working in landscaping, planning and development, the big question is whether it's actively influencing decisions yet. The more we talk about it, the quicker it moves from a concept to something that genuinely shapes how places are designed and planted, which is better for those who live and work in urban environments.

"While we're seeing demand for climate-resilient trees, hedging and biodiversity-led planting accelerating, driven by greener planning ambitions and campaigns such as Greener Gloucestershire influencing developments nationwide, we feel more needs to be done here and now to help improve and enhance understanding of the rule.

"So, we will be creating free advice and insight blogs highlighting the topic on our website during the next 12 months and raising awareness through our social media platforms too. We want people to show us photos of what they can see outside their window today, to tags us on their posts and use the hashtags #ThreesRule #TreesRule."

Wyevale Nurseries supplies a wide range of trees, hedging and plants for housing developments, public landscapes and infrastructure projects, where planting decisions must balance aesthetics, resilience and biodiversity outcomes.

As climate pressures intensify, the emphasis is shifting towards species that can withstand changing conditions while still delivering canopy cover, shade, carbon capture and habitat value.

These choices are critical to achieving meaningful canopy targets and ensuring green spaces thrive for future generations.

Wyevale Nurseries is already seeing growing awareness of the 3-30-300 Rule among landscape architects, planners and developers, with the framework increasingly influencing early-stage design conversations. However, it says it wants to see more being done.

By embedding these principles from the outset, developments are better placed to create healthier environments for people and wildlife alike.

Kersten adds: "The 3-30-300 Rule gives our industry a clear, practical benchmark. Every tree specified makes a measurable difference, helping planners, developers and communities create healthier, more resilient places for people to live and work, where nature is part of everyday life.

"We believe wider adoption of the 3-30-300 Rule can help reconnect communities with nature, improve wellbeing and support national and local ambitions for greener, more resilient towns and cities – one tree, and one well-planned space, at a time. So, now look out of your window – can you see three trees?"