London Tree Week
Has Boris Johnson turned into a tree-hugging hippy? The Mayor of London plans to spend May 11-18 tweeting about a new initiative called London Tree Week (hashtag #londontreeweek), which aims to get us all excited about London's arboreal landscape.
As part of the scheme, the Mayor plans to increase London's tree population by five per cent by 2025, by planting 1.5 million more trees over the next 13 years. This will doubtless have benefits to Londoners, but how fun can a week dedicated to London's leafy giants really be? Get involved in a London Tree Week event to find out (highlights below), plus you might learn a few nifty bits of tree trivia along the way.
Yarn bombing
The Garden Museum has donated a small copse of London plane trees (so-called because they shed their bark, so they're ideal for coping with polluted cities like London). The trees will be the victims of a 'yarn bombing', which isn't quite as sinister as it sounds. It means they will be wrapped in lovely multi-coloured knitted jumpers, crafted by guerrilla knitter, Deadly Knitshade.
The Garden Museum, Lambeth Palace Road, SE1 7LB, gardenmuseum.org.uk
Walk in the Woods
Walk in the Woods is the Tree Council's festival which runs throughout May to encourage everyone to enjoy woodland areas. The event is nationwide but you can find walks at your local London woodland by using the Tree Council's map. Two highlights include a treasure hunt at Joydens Wood and forest talks at Hainault Forest, which include learning about the local wildlife and fire-making — for all ages.
Joyden's Wood, Summerhouse Drive, DA5 2ES, May 12 and May 14, 11am-1pm, booking essential via Martin Felstead, martinfelstead@woodlandtrust.org.uk; Hainault Forest, Romford Road, Chigwell, IG7 4QN, May 12, 11am-1pm and May 14, 6-8pm, book via christinajoachim@woodlandtrust.org.uk
Evening Tree ID Walk
Walkers will learn how to identify trees in leaf at Sydenham Hill Wood and find out about the natural history of the Great North Wood.
Crescent Wood Road kissing gate, Sydenham Hill Wood, SE26 3SB, 7pm and 9pm.
Bankside Urban Forest Foray
The Bankside Urban Forest will host a photography competition and tree quiz and a ramble around its urban forest during which you can learn some interesting facts about London's trees.
Skirt of the Black Mouth pocket park, Sumner Street behind Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG, May 15, 12.30-2pm, booking required.
London Tree Week, May 11-18 london.gov.uk/get-involved/events/london-tree-week
