Energy Groves
A tree planting initiative for all of London
In autumn 2024, Energy Garden and Pioneer Point Partners kicked off an initiative to plant an initial 1,000 trees across London
The goal of the programme is to transform London’s overlooked spaces into thriving hubs of natural discovery and community exchange. Through collaborations with community groups and project partners that range from local authorities to National Rail, Energy Garden is creating community orchards, Miyawaki forests, and climate adaptation groves.
Energy Garden’s tree planting initiative presents countless benefits to people across London and the environment. In addition to building biodiversity and providing cultural value, trees provide ecosystem services essential to human flourishing.
Trees serve as a nature-based solution for carbon sequestration, storing carbon in biomass and soil over extended periods. Urban tree planting plays a crucial role in enhancing air quality by filtering pollutants and reducing the urban heat island effect. Due to the prevalence of hard surfaces in cities, the level of surface water runoff is increased.
Trees play a crucial role in mitigating this effect through their canopies (by intercepting precipitation) and their root systems (by promoting soil infiltration and water storage in the soil). Trees are highly effective at mitigating flood risk in cities – they reduce the amount of water reaching the ground and absorb the excess that does. Beyond the supporting and regulating function of trees, as a cultural asset they play a crucial role in the development of quality urban green space.
Recent Highlights and Upcoming Dates
In the months since launching the programme, Silas Creighton, Energy Garden’s Community Trees Lead, has worked with project partners to identify and secure spaces suitable for the initial 1,000 trees and subsequent scaling of the programme. Having now planted a total of 1,116 trees in different locations across London, Energy Garden is focused on helping these trees establish and thrive.
Some highlights from the Spring 2025 planting season:
Community tree planting day in Canonbury on March 31st. Community volunteers planted a climate adaptation grove consisting of 15 Mediterranean trees. Volunteers then installed tree stakes and guards to set the trees on a path to flourish. Throughout the course of the day, we had 45 volunteers (both local and from across London) attend.
Community tree planting day in Blenheim Park, Feltham on April 6th. Community volunteers planted Phase 1 of Feltham Forest which will saw the introduction of two Miyawaki forests totalling 1,030 native trees. Volunteers then spread mulch across both plots retain moisture in the soil and suppress weeds over the growing season.
Partner planting day in Feltham, Hounslow on March 24th. Energy Garden hosted a partners event wherein 15 standard trees were planted, and tree stakes and guards were installed.
Looking ahead to next planting season, Energy Garden is planning:
Extension of our community garden in Brockley by planting an orchard on Platform 1
Phase 2 of the Feltham Forest project which will include four additional Miyawaki forests and a community orchard with Hounslow Council
Three community orchards and one Miyawaki forest with the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
To deliver over 300 trackside trees with GTR in Mitcham and New Southgate
To deliver a grove consisting of 20 trees in the Lancaster West Estate across from Latimer Road station
If you are interested in finding out more about these projects, or partnering with us to provide funding or land for more trees, do not hesitate to get in touch with Silas at silas@energygarden.org.uk
