London’s urban forest helps combat climate change, provides healthy green space for Londoners and a home for wildlife. Since 2016 the Mayor has supported the planting of over 350,000 new trees across London. Many more are needed and in this National Tree Week, which runs from 27 November to 5 December, there are plenty of opportunities for you to get involved to plant even more.
1. Help create two of London’s newest woodlands
The Mayor is supporting the creation of two new public woodlands in London including London’s largest, current woodland project. You can get involved by joining community planting events. Register for Enfield Council’s Restoration of Enfield Chase project (on 27 November or 4 December) or with the Woodland Trust at Hainault Forest.
2. Plant a tree for the Jubilee
To celebrate the Queen’s amazing 70 years of service, Trees for Cities need your help to plant new young trees on the borders of Ashton Playing Fields in Redbridge on Saturday 4th December. This is part of The Queen's Green Canopy UK-wide celebrations to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022. Sign up to volunteer.
3. Order free trees to plant in your community
If you want to organise your own community or school tree planting activity later in the year, our friends at the Woodland Trust and TCV have free tree packs available to order. The Tree Council have free orchard tree packs for schools.
4. Plant the right tree in the right place
If you are thinking of planting your own tree somewhere, to thrive it needs to be in the right place; the Mayor of London website has resources to help you plant the right tree in the right place and look after your newly planted trees.
5. Plant trees whilst you search online with Ecosia
Ecosia is a search engine that plants trees when you search the web. As well as planting trees where they are most needed globally, for every Londoner that switches their default browser during National Tree Week, Ecosia plant trees here in London. Switch your default browser to Ecosia.
Read about the Mayor's plan to increase trees in London.
Happy planting!