Tales of Trees - Barbican Children’s Library

Drawing literature and art together in a morning of magical stories

Developing our partnership with Barbican Children’s Library, this themed event held on Saturday 29 June, 10am-12pm, is designed for a younger audience of children up to 10 years, and explores tales of magical and mystical trees, including a tree trail, tree collages and the chance to write a short story to add to the story tree.

Mobile Orchard

A pop-up orchard, taking root in various venues over the City as a platform for performance and learning

Seeing the City for its trees, creative leaders will accompany a mobile orchard with real and manufactured trees, including a giant climbing tree as a centrepiece, which pops up at various City locations. Passersby can discover more about the City’s trees and natural history, including ideas and opportunities for local orchards and produce, through music, dance and poetry performances inspired by British trees, along with the sowing of seeds by participants, which they are then free to take away.

Irish Roots

An open air celebration of Northern Irish culture with eclectic music and exciting, participative family games.

A celebration of Northern Irish culture and heritage. In 2009, 20 seedling oaks were taken from Hampstead Heath and planted in Derry~Londonderry as a gesture of peace and reconciliation. In recognition of this unique City of London relationship and Derry~Londonderry’s position as City of Culture 2013, the Festival’s annual Family Day, Sunday 30 June 2013, 1200 – 1800, will host various cultural activities, inspired by and derived from Northern Irish traditions. Take part in our Gaelic Games, get involved in participative arts activities inspired by the Northern Irish born C S Lewis or partake in a lively reel around Parliament Hill accompanied by folk musicians.

Concert Contact

Young people and older adults visit concerts in spectacular City venues for free

This free ticket scheme gives secondary school students and older adults the incomparable and uplifting experience of live music in the City's spectacular venues, encouraging wider contact with the artistic programme and opportunities for young people and older adults to meet and share thoughts and ideas. Pre-concert talks featuring musicians, composers and music leaders bring the programme to life, providing an insightful and accessible background to classical repertoire, the composers and the players. This year approximately 150 tickets will be given away.

Supported by the Steel Charitable Trust