What are the best trees to plant for carbon offsetting?
If you’re looking to plant trees to help the environment, focus on species that live a long time and grow large. The bigger and longer-lived a tree is, the more carbon it can absorb and store, helping to combat climate change.
To give these trees the best chance to thrive, plant them about 20 metres apart in a well-draining field with plenty of space for their roots. For long-term impact, consider placing a covenant on the land to protect it from development for at least 300 years. After all, the effort of planting trees for the planet is only truly worthwhile if those trees are allowed to grow to their full potential and benefit future generations.
It’s also wise to plant a diverse mix of species. This way, if one type is affected by a pest or disease, the rest of your planting remains healthy.
The trees listed below can serve as the foundation for a strong, climate-resilient carbon offsetting scheme. You can also add faster-growing, shorter-lived trees like Betula pendula (Silver Birch) or Prunus avium (Wild Cherry) between the longer-lived species to give the landscape a fuller look in the early years. Just keep in mind that these won’t be around forever — they’ll likely fade out after 50–100 years, allowing the more robust species to take over.
Trees to offset carbon
Acer pseudoplatanus, Sycamore 200-300 years
Carpinus betulus, Hornbeam 200-300 years
Fagus sylvatica, Beech, 300-400 years
Gingko biloba, Maidenhair Tree 500-1000 years
Juglans nigra, Black Walnut, 200-300 years
Liriodendron tulipifera, Tulip Tree, 200-300 years
Metasequoia glyptostroboides , Dawn Redwood, 200-250 years
Pinus nigra Austriaca, Corsican Pine, 300-500 years
Quercus ilex, Holm Oak 500-1000 years
Quercus robur, Oak, 300-500 years
Sequoiadendron giganteum, Redwood, 1000-2000 years
Taxus baccata, Yew, 500-600 years
Tilia cordata, Small Leaved Lime, 500-750 years
Tilia platyphyllos, Broad Leaved Lime, 500-750 years
Only six of the trees on this list are native to the UK, but that’s not a problem. In fact, ornamental and non-native trees will play an important role in future planting schemes, helping to build diverse, resilient landscapes better suited to a changing climate.
Each tree we offer includes a carbon performance tag, displayed among the final product images, so you can see how much carbon dioxide that species is expected to offset over its lifetime. To explore how these ratings are calculated—and why trees like Sycamore and Redwood rank so highly—read our guide on how much carbon is stored in trees.
Governments may one day offer incentives for this kind of tree planting. But even without that, if you have unused land, planting long-lived trees is a powerful and lasting way to contribute to the fight against climate change.
Keep in mind: trees begin making a real impact on carbon storage after about 30 years of growth. This is not a quick win — it’s a gift to future generations. Imagine the legacy we could leave if this kind of long-term thinking were adopted throughout the UK.