Join us to plant and care for trees! 

As part of the project, local community groups and volunteers are invited to take part in planting and caring for the trees with us. 

Please join us for a session of tree planting and maintenance in Southmere Park on Wednesday 26th March. This is a great opportunity to get active outdoors with others, enjoy the fresh air, and help build a long-lasting green space with many benefits for the local community. 

All are welcome - no previous experience is required, and Trees for Cities staff will do their best to ensure the activities are accessible for all participants. Handwashing stations and drinking water will be provided on site, as will gloves and tools. We ask that you wear weather-appropriate clothing that you don't mind getting muddy. 

If you are a community group: 
We can run dedicated 1-hour sessions for your group between 10am and 3pm. To book your slot, please email community@treesforcities.org . 

If you are an individual volunteer: 
Please join our drop-in session between 1pm and 3pm, you can come and go at any time. We would appreciate you signing up using the form below so we can get an idea of numbers, but you are also welcome to turn up on the day. We will meet at this point on Google Maps (What3Words: ///canny.life.tiles ). 

For more information, email community@treesforcities.org . 

Why are trees important here? 

Thamesmead was developed on reclaimed marshland in the 1960s. The site is dominated by poplar and willow, interspersed with rough grassland containing the locally scarce chicory. The water and marginal areas support a fairly dense growth of aquatic plants, dominated by common reed and course grasses, with occasional lesser water-parsnip and brooklime. 

‘Living in the landscape’ is the long-term plan for Thamesmead’s green spaces and waterways - containing 240 hectares of parks and green space, 7km of canals, five lakes, 5km of river frontage and 53,000 trees. Increasing the tree canopy cover and looking after the current tree canopy will increase the climate resilience of the green network. 

New trees will add to the capacity of the treescape to slow the flow of water into water courses, but will also increase the generational mix and species diversity in the area, ensuring that these benefits are sustained into the future. As the trees grow, they will also ensure future shade provision in open areas. 

We welcome comments and questions from the Thamesmead community. If you would like to get in touch or simply stay informed about the project's development, please email community@treesforcities.org .