Richard Argall – Truro’s Tree Man
A Window into Truro’s Greener Future
Meet Richard Argall — a man with a squeegee in one hand and a sapling in the other. For over 30 years, this self-employed window cleaner has quietly transformed Truro by planting more than 1,000 trees on the very streets he services.
His passion for nature began with a pea shooter and a patch of garden. A chance encounter with a self-sown hawthorn at home ignited a lifelong love of tree planting — and he’s never looked back.
What started with tending fruit trees on his allotment has grown into a personal mission: to plant a tree on every street he cleans windows. Most of his customers gladly jumped on board — and today, Richard’s legacy is visible on nearly every corner of the city.
Working alongside Truro City Council, Truro in Bloom, and Cornwall Council’s tree officers, he’s nurtured trees in public parks, graveyards, schools, and private gardens alike.
Richard says, “One tree in an urban desert brings it alive.” And it’s not just poetic — his work continues as part of the Forest for Cornwall initiative, which aims to combat climate change through community tree planting.
Examples of Richard’s planting in Truro
Please note that locations are given underneath each picture using what3words.
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Trees Richard has planted in this easy to read list, sorted by date
Have a look here
