A free autumn celebration of trees, culture, food, creativity and wellbeing in Greenwich Park, as part of Black History 365
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. Through walks, wellbeing, creative activities, food and storytelling, the day explores how trees connect us to culture, memory, identity and place.
The programme grew from conversations with local African and Caribbean communities and a simple question: what stories do trees hold for us, and what stories do we bring to them? From Greenwich Park’s historic mulberry to trees as food, migration and family memory, the day invites people to experience the park through a different lens.
Open to everyone, the event is a chance to slow down, make, talk, share food and enjoy the beauty of Greenwich Park in autumn — celebrating the ways trees connect people across cultures, generations and landscapes.
Funded by the Royal Borough of Greenwich for Create
Line-Up - Saturday 24th October 2026 ↓
Rooted in Trees – Movement Workshop - Session 1
A welcoming music-led movement session under the trees, exploring the spine as a source of freedom, expression and connection. Suitable for all abilities, with two 30-minute sessions available on a first come, first served basis.
Mulberries & Migration Walk
Join cultural historian and mulberry expert Peter Coles for a guided walk exploring Greenwich’s mulberry heritage, migration stories and the remarkable trees of Greenwich Park. The walk will introduce some of the stories that connect mulberry trees with people, place, trade and migration, while offering a chance to look more closely at the wider tree landscape of the park.
Rooted in Trees – Movement Workshop - Session 2
A second chance to join this music-led movement experience, exploring the spine as a source of freedom, expression and connection. Suitable for all abilities, with places available on a first come, first served basis.
Tree Gratitude Workshop & Tasting Session
A sensory workshop with Mama D of Community Centred Knowledge, exploring the hidden ways trees appear in our food, homes and everyday lives. Taste, smell and handle tree products while discovering their cultural stories and connections, followed by a bring-and-share lunch at 1pm.
Community Sharing Lunch
An informal bring-to-share community lunch celebrating food, culture and connection. Bring a favourite dish or snack, try flavours from different cultures, share stories and enjoy eating together. If the weather is good, bring a blanket and eat outside among the trees.
Please tell us about any known allergens. If you have a severe food allergy, we recommend bringing your own food.
Printing with Plants
Join Urban Tree Festival’s Sara Hayes for a relaxed botanical printmaking workshop using fallen leaves and plant material gathered from Greenwich Park. Explore texture, shape and pattern to create your own unique mono-prints directly from nature. Suitable for all ages and abilities, with all materials provided.
Drum Making Workshop
A lively, hands-on drum-making and sound workshop with participatory artist Margarita Novikova / be_heard_arts. Create simple instruments from recycled materials, experiment with rhythm and collective sound-making, and make some noise together. Open to all ages and abilities, with all materials provided.
Image: Men’s Cabin Poplar
Feedback Form
If you attended this event, we’d love to hear what you thought of Rooted in Greenwich. Your feedback helps us understand what worked, what could be improved, and how we can shape future Urban Tree Festival events with local communities. If you attended any part of the day, please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us, every response is really useful.
Plan Your Day…
Where to find the Learning Centre
Find Us
The Greenwich Park Learning Centre is at Charlton Way, London SE3 7AP, towards the Blackheath side of the park.
Enter via the Blackheath Gate and then turn right through the Flower Garden, and you will find us a short walk in on your right.
W3W: ///counts.candy.sound
By Train:
Nearest train station Blackheath, turn left and walk across the heath to Blackheath park gate.
By Bus from Woolwich:
Take the 54 bus towards Elmers End and get off at Charlton Park Road. From there it’s a short walk to the Greenwich Park Learning Centre, Charlton Way, SE3 7AP, Enter via the Blackheath Gate and then turn right through the Flower Garden, and you will find us a short walk in on your right.
Note: If you walk up from Greenwich end it is a steep hill!
What to bring
Bring comfortable shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, and anything you’d like to contribute to the shared lunch. If you’re joining a wellbeing session, you may also want to bring an extra layer for sitting or lying outdoors.
Bring-to-share lunch
At 1.00pm we’ll have an informal bring-to-share lunch. You’re welcome to bring a dish, snack or food item to share if you’d like, but there’s no obligation. Please take all rubbish home with you.
Free tea & coffee
Tea and coffee will be available free throughout the day at the Learning Centre.
Accessibility
Parking is available at the Blackheath Gate entrance and access to the Learning Centre is through the Flower Garden to the right.
The Learning Centre provides an indoor base for the day, with a standard accessible toilet. A Changing Places toilet is available at the nearby café.
Activities will be adapted where possible to suit different needs. If you have a particular access requirement, please get in touch before the event so we can help:
Children & families
Families are very welcome. Children must remain under the supervision of their accompanying parent or guardian throughout the event - PLEASE NOTE THERE IS A POND ON SITE.
Weather / what to wear
This is an autumn event and some activities take place outdoors, so please dress for the weather and wear suitable footwear. Most activities will go ahead in normal autumn weather, with the Learning Centre available for shelter and some activities able to move indoors if needed. Walks will take place whatever the weather.
Booking Information
The event is free and you’re welcome to come for one activity or stay for the whole day. Some sessions may have limited space, so check the individual event listings for any booking information.
