London Tree Week returns with wandering tree art & woodland walks
London Tree Week returns with wandering tree art, edible leaves & woodland walks
London’s beautiful trees, forests and woodland will be celebrated during this year’s London Tree Week (Saturday 28 May until Sunday 5 June) which returns with a host of fun events across the capital, from edible leaf tasting to 3D tree street art and historic walks across the city.
A giant flat 3D tree will be on the ground outside City Hall on More London, SE1, on Tuesday 31 May. The ‘Wandering Tree’ is a special piece of street art creating an optical illusion and people can take pictures of themselves standing on top of the impressive mighty oak.
Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park is a public park which is home to an incredible variety of trees, plants, birds and insects. The historic park closed to burials in the 1960s and has continued to be used as a much loved community green space. During Tree Week people are invited to join the Park Manager for a guided walk where you can sample ‘wild nettle teas’, learn about sustainable harvesting and tree identification techniques. There is also the opportunity to nibble edible leaves, shoots and flowers and hear about the many unusual ways to use urban trees in recipes.
The positive effects of spending time in green spaces is well known to improve people’s moods and boost happiness. In support of this Trees for Cities are offering mindfulness walks in South London’s Ruskin Park, exploring nature and trees impact on our wellbeing, whilst the nearby Maudsley Hospital has transformed a neglected patch of land into a beautiful Therapy Garden. The Garden will enable patients and staff to get involved in food growing, as well as a space for outdoor yoga sessions next to the new apple trees.
Young people are invited to come and explore Walpole Park in Ealing to learn about the type of birds that live in the trees and listen out for their distinct bird ‘songs’ and sounds. There will be the opportunity to make musical instruments that recreate similar sounds to the bird songs.
Many of London’s amazing parks will be offering a variety of green trails and activities from uncovering the natural history of Crystal Palace Park, to discovering the mulberry tree heritage around the City of London, and a chance to learn how to care for trees in Beddington Park.
Amateur photographers will be able to take part in the London Tree Week Photo Sharing Challenge by uploading photos of trees to Instagram or Twitter. Whether it’s the oldest, tallest, widest or most unusual tree, people can tag their social media photos using #LondonCanopy #LondonTreeWeek and share a snap of a special tree.
London Tree Week 2016 – Highlights include:
Saturday 28 May
- Volunteer tree care and maintenance in Beddington Park, 10am-12-noon
Meet by the Grange Play Centre in the London Road Car Park, Sutton, SM6 7BT.
Join Sutton’s Tree Officer to learn a bit about tree maintenance as we prune and coppice some young tree saplings in Beddington Park. You can find out more about Beddington Park on Sutton Council’s website.
Free. Email: [email protected] to book your place.
- Bloomsbury Squares tree walk, 11am-12-noon
Meet at the steps of the Goodenough Club, 23 Mecklenburgh Square, London WC1N 2AD.
Join the Association of Bloomsbury Squares and Gardens with Val Martin Memorial Walks for a free guided tree walk around the squares. This is a great chance to see some of the area’s splendid and unusual trees. You’ll also be able to view the New Zealand border in the beautiful Mecklenburgh Square garden which is normally closed to the public. Another highlight is London’s second oldest plane tree in Brunswick Square, one of the city’s top ten trees. Guides are members of Goodenough College. Book your free place at:
- Tottenham Trees launch walk, 2pm-3pm
Meet outside the Pavilion Cafe, Bruce Castle Park, Lordship Lane N17 8NJ
This free walk celebrates the launch of the Tottenham Trees Group. We’ll be looking at some of the many different trees that can be found there. Highlights include Tottenham's Oldest Tree (an Oak), a Tulip Tree and an Indian Bean Tree. Free. No need to book. Find out more at: www.tottenhamtrees.org
Sunday 29 May
- Stalking London Trees: the Fulham Palace Holm Oak – photography walk, 11am-1pm
Meet outside Putney Bridge Tube station
For over 450 years, this evergreen Holm oak has stood in the grounds of Fulham Palace. The gardens of Fulham Palace started off as an arboretum and some of the original specimens survive. Join Museum of Walking and photographer Peter Coles on this walkshop. Come and learn new facts about and get a fresh view of trees. Whether you’re a dab hand with a digital SLR, a novice struggling to master your smartphone or getting to grips with Instagram come and take some great #LondonTreeWeek photos. Suitable for adults and families (accompanied children only). Bring a camera. Book your free place: Eventbrite
Bank Holiday Monday 30 May
- Tall tree stories at Telegraph Hill, 11am-12-noon
Meet outside the Hill Station café, SE14 5TW
Come and enjoy a fun family day out. The children will love hearing stories about trees some true, some not. They can also make up their own tall tree stories too. We’ve all heard an ‘old wives tale’ or two about a tree, here's your chance to test your wits and your storytelling powers - to discover which stories are tree or false.
For accompanied children aged 7+ (siblings, parents and grandparents welcome).
Book your free place: Eventbrite
Tuesday 31 May
- Tree Stories of London exhibition opens (runs to 10 June)
Lower Ground Floor (map area), City Hall
This small exhibition tells the stories of 14 people and the trees that matter to them for all sorts of reasons - from a Plane tree in Battersea Park to a Tangerine Tree in Myatts Field North. The exhibition has been organised by The Woodland Trust as part of a call for a Charter for Trees, Woods and People. Share your own tree story when you visit.
- Wandering Tree – all day, More London, outside City Hall, SE1 2AA
Come and see the Wandering Tree! The Wandering Tree is a large piece of pavement art. Have your photo taken on its leafy branches and hear more about the Tree Charter
- Camden Green Gym at Waterlow Park, 10:45am–2pm
Meet at Waterlow Park Lodge, Dartmouth Park Hill, N19 5JF
Get fit and help improve nature areas in this beautiful park at this free volunteering opportunity. No booking needed, refreshments provided. Waterlow Park is home to a number of interesting trees. The Friends of Waterlow Park have a tree trail map on their website, and have also written about the Gingko trees in the park.
Find out more: www.tcv.org.uk/camden
- Songs in the trees, 11am-1pm (5-7 years), 2-4pm (7-11 years) also on 2 June.
Meet at the Rickyard, Walpole Park, Ealing, W5 5EQ.
Children can explore Walpole Park and learn about the birds that live in the trees there. They’ll use the birdsong they hear to inspire them to make their own instrument and play in their version of the ‘dawn chorus’.
Find out more: www.pitzhanger.org.uk/walpole-park/visit-walpole-park
Cost: £2.50 per child. Contact Alys Hughes to book: 020 85675661 or 07711391184.
Email: [email protected]
- Talking trees, 6-8:30pm
Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, 3 More London Riverside, SE1 2AQ
Clive Anderson chairs an evening of talks about trees. There’ll be a number of high profile speakers like author of The Tree Climber’s Guide, Jack Cooke and poet Judy Ling Wong. Other speakers include Russell Miller (Chair of the Ancient Tree Forum), Mathew Frith (London Wildlife Trust) and Harry Thacker (Trees for Cities). Free. Find out more and enter a ballot for tickets at the Tree Charter website
- The City’s marvellous mulberries, 6:30pm-7:45pm
Meet at Fountain Court, Middle Temple (entrance off Middle Temple Lane, via Fleet Street or Victoria Embankment)
Discover London’s mulberry tree heritage with this free guide walk after work. Peter Coles will lead you around some of the Square Mile’s mulberry heritage sites. He’ll also explore the area’s wider history, before mulberry-themed refreshments near St Paul’s. The event marks the launch of the Conservation Foundation’s Morus Londinium project.
Book your free place at: Eventbrite
- Edible Trees at Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, 6:30pm-8:20pm
Meet at The Soanes Centre, Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, Southern Grove, Mile End, E3 4PX
Join Ken, the Park Manager, for a guided walk of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park. As you gently walk, you’ll learn sustainable harvesting techniques and basic tree identification techniques. Nibble leaves, shoots and flowers, and hear about the many ways to use urban trees in recipes. £8/£6 concs. Book your place at: www.fothcp.org/london-tree-week
Wednesday 1 June
- Tree Stories of London exhibition (runs to 10 June)
Lower Ground Floor (map area), City Hall
This small exhibition tells the stories of 14 people and the trees that matter to them for all sorts of reasons - from a Plane tree in Battersea Park to a Tangerine Tree in Myatts Field North. The exhibition has been organised by The Woodland Trust as part of a call for a Charter for Trees, Woods and People. Share your own tree story when you visit.
- Leaf printing (children’s event), 10:30am-12.00-noon
Meet at The Soanes Centre, Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, Southern Grove, Mile End, E3 4PX
Come and learn all about the different trees in Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park. We’ll start by exploring the park, collecting leaves as we go. We will then use these leaves to make beautiful pieces of art! Suitable for ages 4+ cost: £3 per child.
Book here: www.fothcp.org/london-tree-week
- Oak processionary moth awareness and surveying, 11am-3pm (also runs on 2 June)
Meet at Holly Lodge, Richmond Park, TW10 5HS
Discover the history and biology of the oak processionary moth (OPM) in the London area. The day is split into two sessions. The first will be in the classroom and around education and discussion. In the afternoon enjoy outside surveying for OPM. Andrew Hoppit from the Forestry Commission will run the day. Please bring your own lunch.
Find out more: www.forestry.gov.uk/opm
To book your free place, email Gill Brown: [email protected]
- Woodland conservation at Oak Hill Wood, 11:30am-3pm weather permitting
Meet at Oak Hill Park, Mansfield Avenue, East Barnet, EN4 8QD (look for London Wildlife Trust van). Nearest Tube: Cockfosters (Piccadilly), 1.2km
Join the London Wildlife Trust for a woodland work session to help them improve access around this medieval oak wood, a home to rare wild service-trees and bright woodland flowers. To book, email Catherine Cullen: [email protected]
Find out more at the London Wildlife Trust website.
- Official opening of Horticultural Therapy Garden at South London Maudsley Hospital,
12-noon-1pm
This Trees for Cities project, supported by the Mayor, has seen a neglected patch of land in the SLaM grounds transformed into a garden with apple trees. This event is invite only.
Find out more: www.treesforcities.org/about-us/projects/uk-projects/london/slam-horticulture-therapy-garden/
- Native trees and shrubs, 2pm-4pm
Meeting at The Soanes Centre, Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, Southern Grove, Mile End,E3 4PX
The Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park will lead this gentle meander around the park. We’ll be focusing on the array of native tree and shrubs that can be found here. Learn how to identify different species using leaves and other key features. We’ll also touch on their relationship with wildlife and management techniques.
Book your free place at: www.fothcp.org/london-tree-week
- Exploring London’s tree canopy
Kew Gardens
An evening of talks about what we can learn from the results of London’s iTree survey. We’ll also discuss recent tree planting projects in London, and the importance of integrating trees and green infrastructure in our places. This is an invitation only event.
Thursday 2 June
- Tree Stories of London exhibition (runs to 10 June)
Lower Ground Floor (map area), City Hall
This small exhibition tells the stories of 14 people and the trees that matter to them for all sorts of reasons - from a Plane tree in Battersea Park to a Tangerine Tree in Myatts Field North. The exhibition has been organised by The Woodland Trust as part of a call for a Charter for Trees, Woods and People. Share your own tree story when you visit.
- Lloyd Park children's nature trail, 11am-2pm
Meet at Aveling Centre Community Room, Lloyd Park, Forest Road, Waltham Forest, E17 4PP
Follow the trail around the park to discover what wildlife lives in Lloyd Park. There’s also a chance to pond dip and identify your finds. These events are designed for the whole family, so please note under-18s will not be admitted without a parent, guardian or carer. Free. Refreshments and toilets are available.
Find out more at: www.tcv.org.uk/london/education
- Songs in the trees, 11am-1pm (5-7 years) and 2pm-4pm (7-11 years) also runs 31 May
Meet at the Rickyard, Walpole Park, Ealing, W5 5EQ
Children can explore Walpole Park and learn about the birds that live in the trees there. They’ll use the birdsong they hear to inspire them to make their own instrument and play in their version of the ‘dawn chorus’.
Find out more: www.pitzhanger.org.uk/walpole-park/visit-walpole-park
Cost: £2.50 per child. Contact Alys Hughes to book: 020 85675661 or 07711391184.
Email: [email protected]
- Oak processionary moth awareness and surveying, 11am-3pm (also runs on 1 June)
Meet at Holly Lodge, Richmond Park, TW10 5HS
Discover the history and biology of the oak processionary moth (OPM) in the London area. The day is split into two sessions. The first will be in the classroom and around education and discussion. In the afternoon enjoy outside surveying for OPM. Andrew Hoppit from the Forestry Commission will run the day. Please bring your own lunch.
Find out more: www.forestry.gov.uk/opm
To book your free place, email Gill Brown: [email protected]
- Haiku on foot; 6.30pm-8pm
Meet outside the Imperial War Museum, SE1 6HZ
Free-form walk where you get to write and inspire others to write haiku poems. These are just 3 lines long, have 5 syllables in the first and third lines and 7 syllables in their second line. To help celebrate #LondonTreeWeek the theme will be Trees. What better place to do that than in Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Gardens as it hosts an Ice Age Tree Trail.
Book your free place at: Eventbrite
- Tree walk: Uncovering the natural history of Crystal Palace Park, 7pm-8:30pm
Meet outside Crystal Palace rail station (Overground/Southern)
Come and pick up some tree identification skills and learn about the forgotten landscape of the Great North Wood. This free walk is led by the London Wildlife Trust.
Find out more at: www.wildlondon.org.uk
www.facebook.com/TheGreatNorthWood
www.twitter.com/GreatNorthWood
Email: Sam Bentley-Toon [email protected], call: 07734 599286
Friday 3 June
- Tree Stories of London exhibition (runs to 10 June)
Lower Ground Floor (map area), City Hall
This small exhibition tells the stories of 14 people and the trees that matter to them for all sorts of reasons - from a Plane tree in Battersea Park to a Tangerine Tree in Myatts Field North. The exhibition has been organised by The Woodland Trust as part of a call for a Charter for Trees, Woods and People. Share your own tree story when you visit.
- Wandering Tree – all day
Outside Simmons-Simmons, City Point , One Ropemaker Street, EC2Y 9SS
Come and see the Wandering Tree! The Wandering Tree is a large piece of pavement art. Have your photo taken on its leafy branches and hear more about the Tree Charter.
- Trees and woodlands talk, 10:30am-11:15am
At Oak Farm Library, Sutton Court Road, Hillingdon, UB10 9PB
Nearest Tube: Hillingdon (Piccadilly), 800m
Join the London Wildlife Trust for a talk looking at trees and woodlands. Find out about their use and management, past present and future. No booking required. Donations appreciated.
Find out more at the London Wildlife Trust website.
Email: Andy Willmore [email protected]
- Discovering the plants and wildlife of Addington Hills and Bramley Bank, 11:30am-2:30pm
Meet at Coombe Lane Tramlink stop, Croydon
Join the London Wildlife Trust on a guided walk and learn more about the trees, plants and birds found of these fantastic woods and heaths. Free, no booking required.
Find out more at the London Wildlife Trust website.
Email: Mike Waller [email protected], call: 07505028037
- Tall Tree Stories at Brockwell Park; 3pm-4pm
Meet outside the Brockwell Hall café, Brockwell Park, SE24
Come and enjoy a fun family day out. The children will love hearing stories about trees some true, some not. They can also make up their own tall tree stories too. We’ve all heard an ‘old wives tale’ or two about a tree, here's your chance to test your wits and your storytelling powers - to discover which stories are tree or false.
For accompanied children aged 7+ (siblings, parents and grandparents welcome).
Book your free place at: Eventbrite
Saturday 4 June
- Where’s your canopy? A walk around the Elephant and Castle urban forest, 11am-12:30pm
Meet outside The Coronet, next door to the shopping centre on New Kent Road, SE1 6TJ
Writer and urban forest activist Guy Mannes-Abbott leads this walk. After a local campaign, Lend Lease - the developers of Elephant Park - formally recognised the ‘public welfare value’ of the urban forest at the old Heygate Estate. They promised to keep, restore and increase the existing canopy through and beyond this last major redevelopment site in central London. More than two years on, come and see what’s happened to the forest and what progress has been made. Book your free place: [email protected]
You’ll then be emailed more details.
- Tree walk: Uncovering the natural history of One Tree Hill, 2pm-3:30pm
Meet at the gates to St Augustine’s Church, Honor Oak Park, SE23 3LE
Nearest station: Honor Oak Park (Overground/Southern), 500m
Join London Wildlife Trust for a guided walk around one of the largest remaining fragments of the Great North Wood. Pick up some tree identification skills and learn about the wood’s forgotten landscape. Free.
Find out more: www.wildlondon.org.uk
www.facebook.com/TheGreatNorthWood
www.twitter.com/GreatNorthWood
Email: Sam Bentley-Toon, [email protected], call: 07734 599286
Sunday 5 June
- Tree Walk: Beddington Park, Sutton, 10am-11am
Meet by the Grange Play Centre in the London Road Car Park, SM6 7BT
Come and discover some of the interesting and older trees in Beddington Park. You can also learn how to identify some of the most common tree species growing there.
Find out more about Beddington Park on Sutton Council’s website.
To book your free place email: [email protected].
- The wooded delights of a Triangle, 11am-1pm
Meet at entrance to Gunnersbury Triangle, Bollo Lane, Chiswick, W4 5LW
Nearest station Chiswick Park (Piccadilly), 50m
Discover the woodland delights of Gunnersbury Triangle on this guided walk by the London Wildlife Trust. Come and learn about the characteristic features of some of the trees and how to use these to identify them. Free.
Find out more: www.wildlondon.org.uk
Email: Mike Fray, [email protected], call: 07734 599729