NATIONAL TREE WEEK: 22 – 30 NOVEMBER
COMING UP – It’s the fiftieth anniversary of National Tree Week – the UK’s biggest celebration of trees!
National Tree Week (NTW), from November 22 – 30, marks the start of the winter tree planting season. The Tree Council and partners want people all across the country to plant, connect with, celebrate and learn more about our trees and all that they deliver for people, wildlife and our planet.
They brighten our streets, parks and gardens – and are a vital element of our nation’s network of hedgerows.
In a year where emotions around trees ran high following the alarming damage, for example, to the ancient Enfield oak, and where convictions were handed down for the destruction of the Sycamore Gap Tree in a ‘seemingly mindless act of vandalism’ – NTW brings urgent focus, not just to the need to establish more trees, but also to ensure those we already enjoy are sufficiently protected.
With this in mind, the theme for NTW 2025 is ‘A Future Filled with Trees’.
The Tree Council CEO, Sara Lom, said: “We’re delighted to celebrate our 50th National Tree Week, which provides a fantastic opportunity for all of us to come together for the love of trees.
“Trees have faced so many challenges over the past 50 years, from Dutch elto ash dieback, from development pressures to water shortage, but we’ve never needed trees more.
“They provide homes for wildlife, help us cope with our warming climate and make our busy city lives more joyful every day, with their beauty, colour and form.
“They help us – and now we need to help them back – and by getting involved this planting season, you’ll be part of growing a greener, tree-filled future for everyone.”
The Tree Council’s official NTW webpage – www.nationaltreeweek.org.uk – has details of planting opportunities, events, talks, tours and more, taking place throughout the UK during NTW. We’ve developed an easy-to-use interactive map to help people search their local area. Simply visit the page and search the map!
For those unable to join in tree planting, download the pack of Tree Party materials to help celebrate the trees in your life.
The Tree Council is also sharing printed materials with more than 300 libraries across England, Scotland and Wales, to create colourful and informative tree-themed displays in these important and well-visited community hubs.
The packs contain activity booklets, posters, tree-themed reading lists, and even special NTW bookmarks!
Find your nearest library by visiting: https://treecouncil.org.uk/seasonal-campaigns/national-tree-week/national-tree-week-libraries/
And, of course, The Tree Council is running lively and informative free, online talks!
On Monday November 24, Tree Warden Volunteer Engagement Officer, Charlie Knowles will host The Future of Trees: Exploring Green Careers with Young Leaders, featuring Lucy Grabe-Watson, Chair & Founder of Ancient Woodlands UK; Harry Munt, Senior Ambassador for the Young Tree Champions; India Blake, Agroforestry Woodland Officer at the Forestry Commission and Co-Founder of the Logging Off Club; plus The Tree Council’s Science & Action Research Officer, Katie Jones.
On Wednesday November 26, Jon Stokes, The Tree Council’s Director of Trees, Science & Research, and the man behind WILD Guides’ 2025 publication, Trees of Britain and Ireland, will be joined by Paul Wood, the author of Tree Hunting; and Harriet Rix, the author of The Genius of Trees, for a conversation about Trees in Unexpected Places, hosted by Tree Council CEO, Sara Lom.
The final event of the week, on Thursday November 27, will see Riverford founder, Guy Singh-Watson and Soil Association Chief Executive, Helen Browning OBE share their experience of developing Trees on Farms with chair, Jon Stokes, and Ben Norwood, who was co-lead on the Trees on Farms research pilot – part of The Tree Council’s Trees Outside Woodland project.
National Tree Week 2025 runs from November 22 – 30. To find out more about how to get involved, find your nearest NTW themed library or access resources, or to book events, please visit www.nationaltreeweek.org.uk