Landscape painting of Greenwich Park and the Thames by Eugene Delacroix, 1825-7

The trees of Greenwich Park

There are more than 3,000 trees in Greenwich Park

From ancient chestnuts and veteran oaks to majestic planes and evergreen cedars – these trees provide beauty and shade for all, while supporting the park’s thriving wildlife.

The Royal Parks have just launched an ambitious project that will revive these precious trees whilst restoring the wider historic landscape – for us, for our wildlife, and for future generations.

This digital exhibition marks the launch of this project by celebrating the trees of Greenwich Park. Learn more about Charles II’s bold ‘Grand Plan’, discover how our trees have inspired generations of artists and explore how Greenwich Park Revealed will safeguard our glorious treescape.

  • 17th century plans for Greenwich Park by André Le Nôtre

    The Grand Plan

    In the 1660s, King Charles II (1639 – 1685) had Greenwich Park redesigned to an ambitious scheme known as ‘The Grand Plan’.

  • Illustration from 1857 depicting people knocking chestnuts from the trees in Greenwich Park

    A famous tree

    Greenwich Park boasts thousands of trees, but Queen Elizabeth’s Oak is easily the most famous.

  • Painting of the view from One Tree Hill by John Feary, c.1779

    A changing treescape

    For centuries, artists have flocked to Greenwich Park armed with sketchbooks, palettes and canvases.

  • Painting of London from Greenwich Park by Joseph Mallord Turner, c.1809

    Inspiring trees

    Among the thousands of artists who have found inspiration in Greenwich Park are three of the most well-known figures in Western art…

  • Illustration from 1881 depicting a fallen chestnut tree

    Trees in trouble

    The trees of Greenwich Park have had a lot to contend with over the years - from weather and war to squirrels and stargazers!