This page concentrates on planting trees in gardens and similar places around people. For a much more detailed guide, including lots of information about planting trees in many situations, we recommend the National Small Woodlands Association Information Sheet 13 - Tree Planting. The main constraint in most gardens is lack of space. Don't make the mistake of thinking that you can stop a tree from growing. Whatever you are planting, find out how big it may get, and plant it where it will have enough room to grow, so that you won't need to have it pruned.
Trees can increase the risk because of the water they take up from the soil.
Ask a tree consultant and building surveyor or structural engineer for advice before planting trees close to buildings on clay soils. If you want to get trees in more quickly, or in a more planned way, you can plant them. Either buy your trees from a nursery who can guarantee local provenance, or grow your own from local trees. There are about 60 species of trees and shrubs which are native to Britain. These are the species that arrived here after the last Ice Age without human help.