Gardener's notebook: How to make the most of London's Urban Tree Festival
This Saturday the Urban Tree Festival begins in London, celebrating the rich diversity of the city’s street trees and their importance in urban life.
Here are some of the best events taking place:
The Mulberry Trees of Londinium
London has been home to mulberry trees for as long as it has been a city. On Saturday you can join a walk around the capital, tracing London’s Roman history with mulberry trees as markers.
May 11, booking essential. Tickets from £8.
Churchill Gardens Estate
Located on the Thames, the 1950s Churchill Estate is one of London’s greenest. Author of London Tree Walks, Paul Wood, will be running three guided tours of the estate.
May 11, 12 and 19. Tickets from £5, book in advance.
Black Girls Hike and the Hive Family Activity Day
Black Girls Hike provides a safe space for black women to explore the outdoors.
On the last Saturday of the festival it is holding a family activity day in Epping Forest including a morning walk, and afternoon workshops such as bushcraft fire skills and storytelling at the Hive, a learning space located in the heart of the forest.
May 18. Tickets are free of charge but must be booked in advance.
Lovely as a Tree
Linnean Society of London
Located in Burlington House, Piccadilly, The Linnean Society has curated an exhibition from its collection exploring how trees have been represented through history. The exhibition is open Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 5pm every week until June 28.
Tickets for a curator-led tour start at £15, booking essential.
Tree Talk
If you don’t get time to attend an organised event, you can also use Tree Talk, a free resource that uses council tree data to build a tree walk in your own neighbourhood and learn which trees are growing on your doorstep or on your commute to work.
