Letchworth Garden City celebrated Arbor Day 2026 on Thursday 12th February with the children of Icknield Infant and Nursery School, planting ten new trees at a newly dedicated site on the Garden City Greenway. The event brought the local community together, reviving a cherished tradition and reinforcing Letchworth’s long-standing commitment to green spaces and environmental stewardship.
The day began with a lively procession led by the schoolchildren, who walked from Standalone Farm to the new planting site. With great enthusiasm, the pupils performed their own song for families and guests and heard reflections from Icknield staff and Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation CEO, Graham Fisher. Over the past three years, the revival of Arbor Day has become an annual tradition, with the Heritage Foundation committed to helping local children connect with arts, nature and the town’s unique heritage. The event has grown each year with the support of local partners and creative practitioners.
On this occasion, the children planted a variety of trees, establishing a permanent Arbor Day site for future celebrations. The site will enable local children to engage with nature while supporting biodiversity and learning about climate-resilient land management practices such as agroforestry.
Arbor Day has a rich and “uniquely Letchworth” history. The town first celebrated the event in 1908, inspired by the original Arbor Day founded in Nebraska, USA. Local schoolchildren played a central role, carrying young trees through the streets in lively processions and planting them in public spaces, helping to shape the town’s iconic green landscape. Historical photographs show children walking down Leys Avenue carrying fir trees, laying the foundations of today’s parks, greenways and tree-lined streets. Notable guests invited by Garden City founder Ebenezer Howard included writer H. Rider Haggard and Arbor Day founder John Cockburn. Children sang specially composed Arbor Day songs, recited poems and received certificates for their contributions. In its early years, more than 100,000 trees were planted across the town. The tradition ended with the outbreak of the First World War and gradually faded from public memory, making today’s celebrations a revival of an important Letchworth community legacy.
A highlight of the day was the performance of Trees Give Us Air, written and composed by the Year Two pupils of Icknield Infant and Nursery School with support from local Musical Director Robert Hyman. The song celebrates the essential role of trees in providing oxygen, shade, food for wildlife and green spaces for the community. The event also brought together local creatives and practitioners who worked with the children to explore Letchworth’s Arbor Day history, reimagine the tradition for today and inspire young people to spend time outdoors caring for nature. Local artist Chantelle Stephenson supported the project by working with the pupils on the design of colourful banners used in the procession.
Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation hopes the renewed tradition will continue to grow in the coming years, working with more local schools and practitioners while encouraging the next generation to connect with the town’s green spaces and environmental heritage. Schools can also access free teaching resources to support their own Arbor Day activities at www.discoverletchworth.co.uk/arbor-day.
