Between 23 November and 1 December, thousands of Londoners helped to tackle the climate and ecological emergency by planting 80,000 trees across the capital during National Tree Week. London’s trees play a vital role in improving our city’s air quality, providing homes for wildlife, and helping us adapt to climate change by providing shade and reducing flood risk.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan helped to kick off the week on 23 November by joining Bandstand Beds to plant trees at their community garden on Clapham Common (pictured), whilst Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, Shirley Rodrigues, took part in community charity TCV’s 60th anniversary planting event in Camden.
Through the Mayor’s programme, Londoners were able to plant trees at home, in their communities and at major planting events, including:
- 30,000 trees planted by 15,000 Londoners in their gardens and community spaces, thanks to our tree giveaway with the Woodland Trust, supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Two trees – a cherry and a rowan – were delivered to Londoners who were successful in our ballot as part of the Woodland Trust’s Big Climate Fightback campaign.
- 25,000 trees distributed by TCV, planted by more than 230 community groups in every borough across the capital, from residents’ associations and schools, to churches and even a swimming club. Over 40 groups held open volunteering events over the course of the weekend.
- Over 20,000 trees planted by 1,000 volunteers at three major planting events across the week, hosted by TCV in Camden, and Trees for Cities in Redbridge and Newham. 500 volunteers attended the week’s biggest event in Beckton on 1 December.
- 5,000 trees that were available for Londoners’ to pick up from selected sites hosted by TCV and the National Trust, everywhere from the Bloomberg Arcade in the City of London to Osterley Park in Hounslow.
- 60 trees distributed to community groups by The Orchard Project as part of a package of training and support for groups to start their own orchards
The National Tree Week programme kick-started this winter’s tree planting plans in London, with 100,000 trees set to be planted this season with City Hall support.
This winter’s planting will take the total funded by the Mayor to 275,000 since May 2016, all contributing towards the Mayor’s aim of increasing London’s canopy cover by 10 per cent by 2050.
A huge thank you to everyone who took part!