Bruno Doedens cycles 5,000 kilometres through Europe with a tree

“A tree is cycling through Europe”: that’s the name of the new project by landscape artist Bruno Doedens. Together with four other sports enthusiasts and a holm oak, he’s cycling through nine countries. Along the way, they’re handing out 5,000 birthday trees. It’s a unique initiative, and Trees for All is proud to be a partner.

On the road with a 5-metre tree

Anyone spotting Bruno and his team on the road will likely do a double take. Is that really a tree cycling by? Indeed it is. Alongside some regular bikes, there’s an electric cargo bike carrying a 5-metre Quercus ilex (holm oak), plus a few smaller trees. Together, they’re crossing mountains, borders and surprising many onlookers.

Their route traces an imaginary 5,000-kilometre circle through nine countries: the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, France and Belgium. “We’re getting so many reactions,” Bruno says cheerfully when we catch him during a cycling break. “Beeping drivers, waving children, people cycling along with us.”

“With these birthday trees, we’re giving something back to the Earth.”

A tree for your birthday

What makes it extra special: everyone who is – or soon will be – celebrating a birthday receives a birthday tree. “They can plant it along the route,” Bruno explains. “Together, we’re creating a huge artwork of birthday forests across Europe.”

People often ask what the trees cost. “But we want to behave like nature does: to give more than we take. By giving away birthday trees, we’re giving something back to the Earth.”

Holding up a mirror to people

Trees for All’s mission aligns perfectly with this: we aim to inspire people to live more consciously and to actively contribute to a green future. Just like Bruno, you can do that by giving a birthday tree. It’s a gift that makes someone happy and helps the climate and biodiversity.

Bruno often hears that his approach holds up a mirror to people. “When they see a tree on a bike, they ask themselves: how do I treat nature? I hope it spurs them into action – to come up with their own creative ideas.” Because positive stories about nature are badly needed, says the landscape artist.

Challenges along the way

The cycling tree set off from Leeuwarden on Friday 11 April. According to the route map on the website, it’s now more than halfway. The journey is expected to finish on 14 September, when the tree will be planted in a place of honour in the Frisian capital.

To be fair, the journey isn’t always easy. Plenty has gone wrong: flat tyres, broken brakes, dead batteries. “The muscle aches aren’t too bad, but it’s tiring to stay so alert. The tree bumps along pothole-filled roads, its branches brushing against others. A holm oak isn’t really meant to cycle 5,000 kilometres, but it’s for a good cause.”

Unexpected encounters

Their days are packed: they often cycle around 70 kilometres, and in the evenings they update social media, write the travel log, contact local and international media, book overnight stays, or plan meetings with mayors or organisations en route.

But the most special moments? Those are the unexpected encounters with passers-by. “We call them ‘TOs’: ‘harvesting coincidences’. We have a leaflet in every language. If someone peers over a hedge, we hand it to them – and before we know it, we’re drinking tea in their garden. Or being offered a beer.”

Trees for All’s contribution

To make the journey possible, a crowdfunding campaign was launched. In addition, Circle4Change is working with project partners such as Trees for All. Thanks to a contribution from our donor Hotels for Trees, we can plant 5,000 native trees along the route. “That’s one tree per kilometre,” Bruno explains. “Incredibly valuable.”

Hotels for Trees is supported by hotels across Europe. For each guest who skips interim room cleaning, the hotels donate a tree. This helps to reduce CO₂ emissions and encourages sustainable travel.

Future plan: a forest on wheels

From now on, Bruno wants to organise an event on or along the circle route every three years. For 2028, he’s imagining a whole forest cycling the circle route in six months. “And how great would it be if the route became a pilgrimage trail? That every European would say: ‘Have you done the Circle4Change on foot or by bike yet?’”