Ealing Council has partnered with environmental charity Letting Grow to create London’s newest microforest on former wasteland at Glade Lane Canalside Park in Southall.
The project will see around 3,000 native deciduous trees planted during January 2026, including oak, beech, rowan, cherry and hawthorn. Volunteers from schools, local businesses and the wider community are being invited to take part in a series of organised planting sessions.
The microforest forms part of a wider rewilding programme by Ealing Council aimed at improving biodiversity and environmental resilience across the borough. According to Letting Grow, the forest is expected to absorb up to 30,000kg of carbon dioxide annually once mature, while also helping to cool the local environment and improve soil quality.
Ross Walker, chief executive of Letting Grow, said: “This is a fantastic chance for everyone to get outdoors, reconnect with nature and make an impact by creating a new urban forest from scratch.”
He added: “Working in nature has been shown to give people a real psychological boost, and it is also a great way for groups to learn and bond through cooperation.”
Letting Grow says microforests can deliver significant environmental benefits even on small plots of land, making them well suited to urban areas. The charity will provide tools and supervision for volunteers.
A previous participant in a Letting Grow planting project said: “The sessions were well organised and welcoming, and the team made volunteers feel appreciated.”
Planting sessions in Southall will run to the end of the month, concluding with a community celebration day on 31 January 2026.
