Join us for the next Tree Guardian on 2nd March 2025

Join our Tree Guardians for the first Sunday of every month, 10am-12noon. Meet at the Growing Hollingdean shed on the corner of Brentwood Road and Lynchet Close.

Our Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardians volunteers on the Linkway, 2nd February 2025

Our volunteers were busy on The Linkway, 2nd February 2025

12 volunteers including two young people, turned up on a bright February Sunday morning to do some tree care in Hollingdean. Using the wood chip pile (mulch) on Horton Road, they mulched around the tree’s on Horton Road, numbers 237, 238 and 239. Then onto The Linkway tree numbers 240, 241, and 242. You can look on the Hollingdean Tree Map to see which trees these are and learn a little more about them.

Our Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardians volunteers on the Linkway, 2nd February 2025

Travelling down hill with the wheel barrows to The Crestway, was fun. We mulched tree numbers 037, 040, 041, 042 and 043. This time of year we prune the Apple trees, taking out dead wood or crossing branches. Guidance is given to beginners. With a little bit of energy left, a couple of trees in St Richards Community garden also received some much needed mulch (225, 226, and 227). We all finished with smiles and a satisfied feeling all round.

Growing tips for February

February is a great time to start off vegetables or flowers in seed trays on your window sill. The RHS recommends trying mini vegetables. To save money you could use seed you saved from last year. Here is how to test if it is still viable Gardeners World. If you are buying fresh seed why not swap and share with friends? Remember any extra seeds or seedlings can also be swapped at the Growing Hollingdean Plant Fair & AGM on the 26th April 2025 at Hollingdean Community Centre. See you there?

Blossom to look out for during February in Hollingdean

Blossom to look out for during February in Hollingdean

Its so small you could miss the winter blossom of the Cornelian Cherry, head out to find tree 080 on Brentwood Road and 168 on Lynchet Close, click here for out tree map. These could grow to 2.5–4 metres, with in 10–20 years. Fruits in the Summer and Autumn.

Cherry Plum tree blossom in Hollingdean Brighton, February 2025

Tiny spring flowers all over Hollingdean.

Cherry Plum Blossom in Hollingdean Brighton, February 2025

Join us for the next Tree Guardians, Sunday 2nd February 2025

Join our Tree Guardians for some fresh air, tree maintenance and a smile. Everyone is welcome! Meet us at 10 am at the Family Hub, Lynchet Close before we set off to an orchard.

Volunteer Tree Guardians at Dryads Community Orchard Hollingdean, 5th January 2025
Volunteer Tree Guardians at Dryads Community Orchard Hollingdean, 5th January 2025

Our Volunteer Tree Guardians at Dryads Community Orchard, 5th January 2025

We cleared long grass and spent wildflowers from Dryads Community Orchard off Golf Drive in readiness for the Wassail on 11 January 2024. Although it was a wet day we had a new volunteer join us and two Dryads residents came along as well. We also mulched the fruit trees.

Volunteer Tree Guardians at Dryads Community Orchard Hollingdean, 5th January 2025

There are nine trees here, see our Tree Map, 090 plum, 091, 092, 093 Apple, 094 Black Elder, 095, 097 Apple and 098 Hazel Hedge. It was extremely overgrown at the start but with many hands we made a great impression! Thumbs up to our gardening volunteers.

Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardian Volunteer group on Brentwood Road

Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardian Volunteer group on Brentwood Road, November 2023
Apple trees 089 and 088

Mulching the local fruit and nut trees in November 2023

The Brentwood Road Tree Guardians have come together as a group of local residents to look after the fruit and nut trees a few times a year. In November they gathered woodchip and used it to mulch their local apple, cornelian cherry, quince and hazel trees; and the elder, gooseberry and currant bushes. This helps to keep weeds down and hold in moisture around the roots. It also helps define growing areas and protect them from council strimmers/mowers. These trees, shrubs and bushes were planted by Brighton Permaculture Trust and Growing Hollingdean, see our tree map here.

Why use woody mulches around the garden? The RHS says…

Chipped or shredded mulch make an excellent protective layer, moderating soil conditions by absorbing moisture and slowly releasing it back. As with other mulches they help suppress weeds and protect the soil from erosion, capping and compaction by wind and rain.’

Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardian Volunteer group on Brentwood Road, November 2023. Left to right Nicky, Karen, Polly and Holly, Brentwood Road Tree Guardians
Left to right Nicky, Karen, Polly and Holly, Brentwood Road Tree Guardians

Come and join us for our next tree guardian volunteer session. Email us through our contact page here to let us know your coming.