Urban Tree Festival Pops Up in Autumn with Rooted in Greenwich

Rooted in Greenwich: Trees, Culture & Community is a free one-day autumn celebration in Greenwich Park, presented as part of Black History 365 and the Urban Tree Festival.

The Urban Tree Festival is stepping outside its usual May dates this year with a special autumn event celebrating trees, culture, food, migration, creativity and wellbeing in Greenwich Park.

Rooted in Greenwich: Trees, Culture & Community Celebration takes place on Saturday 24 October 2026 at the Greenwich Park Learning Centre and is completely free to attend.

Funded by the Royal Borough of Greenwich as part of Black History 365, the event has been developed with particular attention to African and Caribbean stories, culture, food, migration and heritage, while remaining open and welcoming to everyone.

The idea grew from community conversations around how people connect with trees and the natural world. One simple comment, “I’d never really thought about trees before,” became the starting point for a day exploring the question: what stories do trees hold for us, and what stories do we bring to them?

Across the day, visitors can take part in movement, guided walks, sensory food-based activities, botanical printmaking, sound and creative workshops, alongside opportunities to sit, talk, share food and enjoy Greenwich Park in autumn.

Programme highlights

10.00am – Rooted in Trees: Free Your Spine to Free Your Mind
A gentle, music-led movement session with Nicola Geismar, exploring movement, freedom and connection under the trees.

11.00am – Mulberries & Migration Walk
Cultural historian and mulberry expert Peter Coles leads a guided walk exploring Greenwich’s mulberry heritage, migration stories and the wider tree landscape of the park.

12.00pm – Tree Gratitude Workshop & Tasting Session
Mama D of Community Centred Knowledge explores the hidden ways trees appear in our food, homes and everyday lives through a hands-on sensory workshop involving tasting, smelling and handling tree products.

1.00pm – Bring-to-Share Lunch
Visitors are invited to bring a favourite dish or snack, share food and stories, and enjoy flavours from different cultures.

2.00pm – Botanical Print Making
Artist and Urban Tree Festival Director Sara Hayes leads a relaxed printmaking workshop using fallen leaves and plant material gathered from Greenwich Park.

4.00pm – Drum Making & Sound Workshop
Participatory artist Margarita Novikova / be_heard_arts leads a lively recycled-material drum-making and sound session.

Free tea and coffee will also be available throughout the day, alongside informal creative activities and opportunities to enjoy the park at one of its most colourful times of year.

Sara Hayes, Director of the Urban Tree Festival, said:

“We normally celebrate urban trees in May, but Greenwich Park is so beautiful in autumn that it felt like the perfect opportunity to do something different. Rooted in Greenwich is about looking at trees through culture, food, migration, memory and creativity, as well as simply enjoying being outside together.”

The event is suitable for older people, adults and families, with activities designed to be accessible to a wide range of ages and abilities. Visitors are welcome to come for one activity or stay for the whole day.

Rooted in Greenwich: Trees, Culture & Community Celebration
Saturday 24 October 2026
Greenwich Park Learning Centre
Free

Full programme, travel information, accessibility details and FAQs is available on the website.