Hackney: London’s Urban Arboretum

Circular tour from Hackney Central overground station

An ambitious tree-planting programme started in Hackney in the early 2000s. In just two decades, the borough has been transformed, and now hundreds of different tree species and cultivars can be seen from E9 to N16 and everywhere in between, enhancing the diversity and vibrancy of this part of the East End. Many of the varieties we will encounter on this walk are those that you would otherwise need to visit a specialist collection like Kew Gardens to see.

While Hackney is renowned for its twenty-first century tree-planting, there’s a less-known pioneering botanical legacy from the eighteenth and nineteenth century too. This walk takes in Clapton Square where two unusual True Service Trees are a reminder of Loddiges nursery that, 150 years ago, supplied rare plants such as these across London and beyond. In fact, the palm trees that grace Hackney Town Hall are also an homage to Loddiges who were famed for their hothouses and tropical species.

If you were in doubt, I hope this brief introduction shows you there’s an awful lot to see in Hackney!

Walk details

Start 10:30, Hackney Central overground station
End 12:30, Hackney Central overground station
Duration: Approximately 2 hours
Terrain: Mostly paved surfaces, fairly easy going
Places are limited to 15

If you are interested in trees or London, then these walks are for you, they cover aspects of the city that you may not have come across before, and introduce you to remarkable individual trees and dozens of species and cultivars that grow on our streets and in our public spaces. All the walks in this programme are led by me, Paul Wood. It’s a way to share my knowledge and passion, and, I hope, to show you London in a completely new way: through its trees.

I have curated each walk to both show off an interesting part of the city and to highlight some interesting trees. Some of the walks have previously featured in my books either in part or whole, while others are completely new.

Places are limited to 15 people, and are of varying length and difficulty. Some are short and sweet, lasting an hour and a half, while others may take up to two and a half hours. While they follow urban routes, some are more strenuous than others, and while they are open to all, I have included details of each walk’s accessibility and terrain. I am happy to answer any questions you may have about the walks, what we will cover and the routes. You can get in touch with me through my website.

About Paul

Paul Wood is a London-based writer, blogger, photographer and tour-guide. He has written three books about trees and urban nature in London:

London’s Street Trees (Safe Haven 2017, 2024), London is a Forest (Quadrille 2019, 2022) and London Tree Walks (Safe Haven 2020), he is also the editor of the Great Trees of London Map (Blue Crow Media 2021).

Over the past three years he has been researching and writing a new book entitled Tree-Hunting: 1,000 Trees to Find in Britain and Ireland’s Towns and Cities, to be published by Penguin in 2025.

You can find Paul on most social media platforms as @thestreettree, you can visit his website at thestreettree.com, and you can follow his weekly accounts featuring a great British or Irish tree on Substack at thestreettree.substack.com.

A large Caucasian Wingnut grows at the end of his street.


Terms and Conditions
Attendees must have a valid ticket for the event. Please ensure you have purchased a ticket in advance, we may not be able to accommodate you on the day if you do not have one.
Please wear suitable clothing and footwear. Some ground may be uneven.
Please do not bring dogs.
In the event of a bad weather forecast or very wet weather on the day, the event may be postponed or cancelled.
Specifically, if strong winds or gusts are likely to exceed 30mph then the event will be postponed or cancelled. If temperatures are forecast to exceed 30ºC at midday, then the event will be postponed or cancelled. If thunder and lightning or sustained heavy rain is forecast, then the event will be postponed or cancelled.
If the event is cancelled, full refunds will be offered to attendees.
Tickets are refundable up to 48 hours before the event. After this time, if you are unable to attend, let me know and I will release your ticket and offer a refund if it is sold.