Something special is taking root in Vauxhall…
Part of London’s Urban Tree Festival (9-17 May), Big Vauxhall Tree Week is a FREE programme of walks, wildlife events and hands-on activities celebrating the neighbourhood’s trees, nature and green spaces.
Join lunchtime tree walks, discover bats in Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, or take part in creative workshops exploring the role trees play in city life. It’s a chance to slow down, get outside and see Vauxhall from a fresh perspective.
The week wraps up with the Vauxhall May Fair, in partnership with Vauxhall City Farm – a joyful weekend of animals, performances, plant stalls, craft activities and family-friendly fun.
Best of all, everything is free – just register your place and join us 🌿
Film Screening: The Happy Man Tree
When a group of Hackney locals discover that a property developer has been granted permission to fell a much-loved, 150-year-old street tree, they do everything they can to try to save it.
The Happy Man Tree highlights the importance of trees for people and their value in urban streetscapes. The film raises issues around the importance of retaining the existing nature in urban re-development and the deep connections between people and natural landmarks.
Evening Bat Walk
Join Dr. Iain Boulton, Lambeth’s Borough Ecologist, for this one hour walk around Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, where you’ll have the chance to detect and (hopefully!) spot Pipistrelle bats.
Common Pipistrelle and Soprano Pipistrelle bats are well adapted to life in the city, where they forage for insects in gardens, open spaces and around street trees – which are all abundant in Vauxhall. This walk begins just after sunset, and uses detectors to find bats after dark.
Lunchtime Tree Walks
Take a lunchtime stroll through Vauxhall and learn about the neighbourhood’s urban forest.
Led by Lambeth’s arboriculture team, these walks reveal the stories behind local trees and the history, ecology and importance of trees in the city.
Walks take place on Tuesday 12 May and Thursday 14 May, setting off at 1pm for an hour – ideal for an active lunchbreak away from your desk!
Community Roundtable
Bringing together environmental experts, local voices and community organisations, this roundtable focuses on the future of trees and green spaces in urban neighbourhoods like Vauxhall.
Expect open conversation around stewardship, sustainability and how communities can play an active role in shaping greener cities. It’s a chance to listen, contribute and connect — whether you’re already involved in environmental work or simply interested in where Vauxhall is heading next.
Evening Sketch & Walk
Slow down and observe Vauxhall’s trees and green spaces through drawing.
This relaxed walk invites participants to sketch and connect with nature in the city.
Tickets released soon!
The Vauxhall May Fair
The grand finale of Big Vauxhall Tree Week, in partnership with Vauxhall City Farm.
A joyful spring weekend of animals, performances, plant stalls, craft activities and family-friendly fun in the Pleasure Gardens.
No need to book, just head to Vauxhall City Farm or the Pleasure Gardens and get stuck in!
