Growing a Greener Future in Thamesmead
Trees for Cities has partnered with Peabody to make sure that decisions about Thamesmead's trees are made in partnership with the Thamesmead community.
Come and plant a tree with us!
As part of the project, we are pleased to be holding a Community Tree Planting Day in Manorway Park, SE28 8LY on Saturday 6th December 2025 from 10am to 2pm. Complete the form below to sign up to plant a tree in your local green space.
Our community planting day is free and open to everyone and is suitable for families. We will provide all the tools and equipment you will need as well as free community lunch and refreshments.
Alongside the tree planting activities, we're excited to welcome internationally-acclaimed artists Ackroyd & Harvey for a workshop to explore the story of Crossway Park's new oak circle and what it means for the local community. Come and participate in making leaf prints, drawings and writings and learn more about the ecology of oak trees and gall wasps in producing ink.
There will also be further information and opportunities to feed into our Thamesmead Urban Forest Strategy consultation, including a short tree tour around the park and local area.
Accessibility is very important to us, and we are working to make sure our events can welcome everyone. If you have any specific needs or questions around accessibility at this event please contact community@treesforcities.org.
First time planting a tree? Find out more from one volunteer's story.
Get involved
Trees for Cities has partnered with Peabody and Land Use Consultants to help develop a Thamesmead Urban Forest Strategy. This is a plan which will help Peabody to manage, protect and enhance the urban forest, and support all those who spend time in it. An urban forest means all the trees and woodlands in Thamesmead, but also the ecosystem of people and wildlife in and around those trees.
Trees for Cities and Peabody invite everyone in the Thamesmead community to take part in shaping the tree strategy and join us in upcoming tree events and workshops. These are great opportunities to learn more, share your ideas, and get hands-on with greening your neighbourhood.
6th December: Community Planting Day, Manorway Green
Volunteer for nature and help us plant new trees in Manorway Green, alongside a free community lunch and other family-friendly workshops and activities. Sign up in the section above!
1st -12th December: Community planting workshops, Crossway Park
We are running a few dedicated 1-hour workshop sessions for school and community groups. Please get in touch by email or phone if you'd like to sign up your group.
To get involved with any of the other upcoming events, please contact Jennifer, our Engagement Coordinator, by email community@treesforcities.org or Whatsapp 07543 504 218.
Please note, our public survey has now closed. Thank you to everyone who took part, your feedback will inform what goes into the strategy and how Peabody manages your local environment.
I am really grateful for all the insights of tree planting and also for engaging with the community.
Thamesmead tree planting volunteer
Why do we need a Thamesmead Urban Forest Strategy?
Thamesmead's urban forest is made up of all the trees and woodlands in Thamesmead. It includes trees in parks and gardens, woodlands and nature reserves, street trees, and the trees and tree groups along the area's railway lines, lakes, canals and along the River Thames. But the urban forest is also made up of the ecosystem of people and wildlife that live among the trees.
Trees play a vital role across Thamesmead as part of its green infrastructure. They provide a range of quantifiable benefits, including contributing to the health and wellbeing of residents, improving air quality, providing wildlife habitat, shading and urban cooling and reducing flooding.
Trees are beautiful, make me feel calm, and I'm amazed at how they grow.
Thamesmead resident
Peabody owns and manages 65% of Thamesmead, which includes 240 hectares of green space made up of five public parks, five lakes, seven kilometres of canals and over 53,000 trees. Having all this to manage makes having a plan useful to create green, healthy and sustainable places to live.
Peabody also wants to ensure that the Thamesmead Urban Forest Strategy reflects local needs through meaningful engagement and a collaborative approach with residents and other stakeholders, including young people, community groups, nature experts, artists and business owners.
In September 2025 we held online community discussions with Thamesmead residents and other local stakeholders about the new strategy. Mary Jansson from Land Use Consultants gave a presentation with more information about the strategy which can be watched below.
