The Royal Borough of Greenwich has begun their annual National Tree Week, starting November 25 and ending December 5 2023.

“We’ve committed to delivering 5000 new trees across Royal Greenwich and we’re already over half-way there.”

Councillor Adel Khaireh, Cabinet Member for Equality, Culture and Communities

The ceremony takes place in approximately 600 communities across the UK, making it the largest annual tree celebration in the country.

A project steeped in history:

National Tree Week started in 2017 as a celebration of 800 years since the 1217 Charter of the Forest, which was an agreement that gave the common people more power over forests rather than the monarchy.

The new Charter for Trees, Woods and People was also launched in 2017.

According to the Woodland Trust, it “was backed by hundreds of organisations, schools, councils, celebrities, artists and community groups.”

The new Charter for Trees, Woods and People outlines ten main principles, including sustaining environments rich in wildlife, protecting trees and woods, and planting for the future.

Along with hundreds of other communities, the Royal Borough of Greenwich stood in agreement with the 2017 Charter for Trees, Woods and People and has planted new trees throughout their 23 different wards.

Councillor Adel Khaireh, Cabinet Member for Equality, Culture and Communities has emphasized Greenwich’s values in creating a carbon neutral, environmentally active, social, and healthy community.