Growing Hollingdean volunteers – Growing Hollingdean

Join Hollingdean’s Forest Gardeners in 2026! Our first session this year

14th Jan 2026

Forest Gardening on the 3rd Sunday of the month

Sunday 18th January 10-12 at the Hollingdean Community Orchard, Hollingdean Park

Meet at 10am at our colourful shed on Lynchet Close or join us later in the Community Orchard. Bring suitable warm clothes. Tools will all be supplied. Children can join in with a responsible adult.

Our main community orchard is growing into a Forest Garden with multiple layers of food crops. This month we could be pruning the Apple and Pear trees, mulching with wood chip and weeding around some of the shrub and perennial plants. Something for everyone to do, whatever your experience and interest. And everyone is welcome. Come and join our friendly team for gardening, chat, hot tea and snacks.

Forest Gardening Volunteers December 2025

Thank you to Growing Hollindean volunteers who attended on 7th December 2025

We weeded and mulched some of the fruit trees, fruit bushes and perennials in the park, and also inspected the new water capture facility and volunteer’s benches. Big thanks to Stephan of the Permaculture Trust who built it for us- and for including comfy benches for volunteers and visitors to rest up- with a good view! This summer we should be able to keep the Forest Garden watered with rainwater captured during the winter months and top up the pond if it needs more water too. All goes towards good crops and happy pondlife.

For all the latest news on Growing Hollingdean free events and volunteering please sign up here or in the box below. Thank you to all the Growing Hollingdean volunteers who made this possible.

Start the year as a Tree Guardian Volunteer!

30th Dec 2025

Tree Guardian volunteers pruning apple trees 7th December 2025

Join us on 4th January 2026, 10am at Lynchet Close shed

Tree guardian volunteers meet at 10am on Sunday 4th January 2026 at the Lynchet Close Shed. We will collect tools and gloves before adventuring out into Hollingdean estate to garden around some fruit and nut trees. RAIN or SHINE! Wear suitable clothing, bring a drink and a smile. Join us to help nature and the biodiversity in Hollingdean.

Tree Guardian volunteers pruning apple trees 7th December 2025 Behind flat on Horton Road

Tree Guardians seen pruning Apple trees on 7th December 2025

It was a mild and very wet day on the 7th December 2025 when four of our Tree Guardians put on their best waterproofs and set about pruning seven apple tree’s, numbers 251 to 257. Located behind the flats on Horton Road, this lovely green space is used by the residence.

There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing! “It’s so satisfying when you get it right.” says one of our happy Tree Guardians.

A great selection of apple trees found here

Pitmaston Pine – A quite different and distinctive apple. Small golden yellow apples, oblong conical in shape covered with a fine russet. Sweet yet sharp.

Crawley Beauty – Excellent dual-purpose variety, found in a garden in Tilgate, Crawley in Sussex in about 1870. Use as a cooking apple early season, producing a light well-flavoured puree, but matures to make an excellent Christmas eating apple. Heavy reliable crops on spreading growth, this hardy variety can flower as late as June.

Bloody Ploughman – This apple tree is a vigorous, historic Scottish variety known for its distinctive deep crimson-red, ribbed apples which often feature pink-stained flesh. The fruit has a sweet, crisp, and juicy flavour with light, tangy notes.

Golden Bounty – Golden Bounty is a Sussex-originated, mid-season eating apple (Malus domestica) resulting from a cross between Cox’s Orange Pippin and Early Victoria. It is known as a reliable, heavy-cropping variety that produces sweet, crisp, golden-yellow fruits.

If you would like to say ‘Thank You’ to our Growing Hollingdean volunteers please add your review here. Thank you.

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Well done Mel! Spreading the Word About Two Trees Community Garden

25th Oct 2025

Council Tenant Celebration Day, 13 September 2025

Growing Hollingdean volunteer, Mel, gave a presentation at the Council Tenant Celebration Day on 13 September 2025, telling people about the wonderful achievements at Two Trees Community Garden over the last 11 years. And her achievements were celebrated in Homing In, the Council’s newsletter for tenants.

Mel a Growing Hollingdean volunteer on front cover of Homing In Autumn 2025 WEB

Front cover news for Two Trees Community Garden

We are very proud of Mel and what she has achieved as one of the Growing Hollingdean early members. As well as establishing Two Trees with Nauma and developing it over the years, she is an active Tree Guardian and also grows in her own allotment and garden. And that is as well as caring for her family and a full time job. She is amazing! A big thank you to Mel.

If you would like to join Mel in Two Trees Community Garden, visit our page here for more information.

If you would like to say ‘Thank You’ to our Growing Hollingdean volunteers please add your review here. Thank you.

Leave your review on Google, thank you so much!

Join us in Hollingdean Park’s Forest Garden, Sunday 21st September 2025, 10am-12pm

17th Sep 2025

Join us in the Forest Garden, 16th September 2025

Get Growing at Forest Garden, Hollingdean Community Orchard

Last month’s Get Growing at the Forest Garden was a scorcher, so we took things at a gentle pace and rested in the shade of the glorious Cherry Plum tree for breaks as we worked in the Orchard. Maybe we should call it a Cheery Plum – it’s been so full of fruit and buzzing bees!

Hollingdean Community Orchard’s broken bench removed, August 2025

Before we could crack on with gardening, we powerlifted the vandalised picnic bench right out of the way – again – so no one would hurt themselves on it (update – thanks to the council, it’s now been removed). We really do want everyone to be able to enjoy the orchard. Sitting there in that sheltered spot is such a pleasure. Even better when we can sample the fruits as we did this session. This month we should find more apples and pears are ripe for picking. Watch this space for possible crowd-funding ideas for a new bench.

Get Growing in Hollingdean, at the Forest Garden

Every 3rd Sunday of the month, from 10am to 12pm. Come along and help us grow food! Our friendly Growing Hollingdean volunteers will meet you at The Shed (on the corner of Brentwood Road and Lynchet Close) at 10am, where you’ll be able to borrow gloves and equipment.

Everyone is welcome, no experience needed! We look forward to seeing you, rain or shine.

Many thanks to all the volunteers – new and regulars – for weeding, mulching and watering.

If only we’d taken a photo of the bindweed mountain we made. Impressive effort, folks!

If you would like to say ‘Thank You’ to our Growing Hollingdean volunteers please add your review here. Thank you.

Volunteers enjoyed gardening at Mountfields wildflower verge on 19 April 2025

29th Apr 2025

Plants from The Wild Flower Conservation Society

Growing Hollingdean Volunteers enjoyed gardening at Mountfields wildflower verge on 19 April 2025

Sarahjane, Polly, Claire and Fenella planted 90 new wildflower plugs to boost the patch at Mountfields. Some of the turf seemed to have thinned, perhaps as result of the yellow rattle sown this winter and in previous seasons. Yellow rattle helps make room for wildflowers by being parasitic on the roots of grass so it less able to crowd the more delicate plants.

Thank you to Claire for gathering plants from The Wild Flower Conservation Society, who save seed and create new wildflower plugs for verges, parks and gardens all over the area. Lets see what a show the wildflowers make this summer- and how the bees, butterflies benefit. The birds will be happy to eat the seeds and plentiful insect life too.

Take look at the new information sign, which explains more about the wildflower verge.

Thank you to volunteers Lars and SarahJane for designing and organising our new sign!

If you would like to say ‘Thank You’ to our Growing Hollingdean volunteers please add your review here. Thank you.

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Tree Guardians are meeting this Sunday, 6th April 2025 10am-12noon. Come and join us!

5th Apr 2025

Meet at Lynchet Close shed – everyone welcome!

Growing Hollingdean volunteer gardeners weeded and mulched trees on Sunday 2nd March 2025

Would you enjoy helping to look after Hollingdean’s fruit and nut trees, and learning more about what helps them thrive? Come ad meet our volunteers at Growing Hollingdean’s shed on the corner of Brentwood Road and Lynchet Close at 10am. We wait 10 minutes before going on to our location for the morning. One of our Growing Hollingdean volunteers will talk through the mornings plan, including with some Health & Safety tips. There are various jobs and you will be given full training. it is a friendly way to enjoy being outdoors. All equipment is provided, please bring your own drink, gloves (if you have them) and a smile!

We are very lucky to have large green open spaces in Hollingdean, perfect places to sit in the quiet and enjoy nature.

Last month Growing Hollingdean’s volunteer gardeners weeded and mulched trees on Sunday 2nd March 2025. Here is what they did.

Sarahjane took nine volunteers to the pile of wood chip on Merevale and Stephens Road to garden around the trees behind the west side flats. There are eight trees in a line, number 192 to 199, see our tree map for more details. Three Apple trees, two pear trees, a two plum and a Mulberry tree. Mulching will help hold the water in the ground whilst the weather is dry. This helps the trees to grow healthy, juicy fruit.

Volunteers at Hollingdean Park Community Orchard

Our Tree Guardians also headed up to Hollingdean Park Community Orchard to weed, prune and chat in the sun. This is such a lovely quiet space to be. Check out the blossom this month, it’s going to be amazing this year. Great for the bee’s and other pollinating insects to enjoy as well.

Thank you to all Growing Hollingdean’s volunteers!

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Lets Get Growing at Hollingdean Park on Sunday 9th March 2025 10 am-4pm

3rd Mar 2025

Join us again on Sunday 9th March 2025 between 10-4 for more planting, smiles and plenty of hot drinks and a free lunch at the Family Hub. Sign up for each event via the ‘Register Now’ button; You must register separately for each event day where we are learning how to make a Forest Garden.

This time we will be building a Big Bug Hotel and also making and planting up more Forest Garden beds at Hollingdean Park Community Orchard. Plenty of fun for everyone! Any other questions please email rob@bhfood.org.uk or call 01273 234 810 quoting the ‘Get Growing in Hollingdean Park’ events.

What we did on 9th February 2025 in Hollingdean Park

Our Growing Hollingdean volunteers joined Brighton & Hove Food Partnership, Brighton Permaculture Trust and Hollingdean Family Hub to plant a new edible hedge in Hollingdean Park. We had a fantastic group of 25 volunteers, including children, who planted fruit trees, climbers, fruit bushes, herbs and perennial vegetables as well as edible flowers. It will be exciting to see what comes up and flourishes this year! We also made some sturdy permanent edges and mulched the whole bed with bark to help the plants get a good start- and make sure it is all safe from the mowers.

Lots of hands make light work of moving the two tons of compost onto the new beds. It kept us all warm on a cold day!

Cardboard is laid down first to help suppress grass and weeds and then the compost is tipped on top. Stakes are added either side of the new fruit trees. Everyone helps decide where smaller plants can go and then get them planted. Woodchip goes on top to protect everything and provide a good mulch. Finally logs are fixed firmly in place with short stakes. A good job done.

Thank you to all the Growing Hollingdean volunteers, Brighton & Hove Food Partnership, The Family Hub and Brighton Permaculture Trust who have all made this possible

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

27th Feb 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.

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

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 to plant thousands of blue crocus bulbs for the End Polio Now charity

28th Nov 2024

Tree Guardian Volunteers on 3rd November 2024, Hollingdean

Sunday 1st December 2024 at Hollingdean Park

End Polio Now poster October, November 2024

Growing Hollingdean volunteers will be gathering in the park at 10-12noon to plant four thousands crocus donated by the Rotary Club for a polio charity or donate money here. Two million purple corms (bulbs) are being planting around throughout Brighton and Hove green spaces. See Friends of Preston Park. Well done Janet at Hollingbury Hawks for planting 4k on her own around the bog pond at Hollingdean Park.

We plan to add them to the wild flower bank at the bottom of the kids playground planted last year. Crocus are easy to plant, bring a spade, a friend and we will have fun opening up the soil and dropping them in. Everyone welcome, all ages. Rain or shine we will be there.

Meet at the Lynchet Close Shed at 10am, to borrow tools and collect your crocus bulbs. Please wear appropriate clothing and bring a drink. We look forward to seeing you, rain or shine!

Hollingdean Tree Guardians volunteers meet at the shed, first Sunday of the month, 10am, Lynchet Close

Meet at Lynchet Close Shed at 10am, to borrow tools and collect some crocus bulbs. Please wear appropriate clothing and bring a drink. We look forward to seeing you, rain or shine!

What Tree Guardian Volunteers did on 3rd November 2024, Hollingdean — Walnut Tree Number 186

What our Tree Guardian Volunteers did on 3rd November 2024

12 Tree Guardian volunteers, 1 child gave some much needed care to the fruit and nut trees at Merevale with weeding, mulching and removing suckers. Tree map numbers: 188, 189, 190 apple, 185 peach, 184 stacked plum, 186 new stacks and 186 walnut, 184 plum and 185 peach. Well done!

Great to meet new volunteers

We stopped for some drinks, chat and snacks provided by Hollingdean Wholefoods, 19a Hollingdean Terrace via local funding initiatives. Thanks Polly for organising this.

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Have you helped to create a Wildlife Habitat in Hollingdean this year? Would you like to make one now?

16th Nov 2024

All welcome at Froglife’s Wildlife Corridors event on Saturday 23rd November 2024, 1.30-4.30pm, Hollingdean Community Centre, Thompson Road

BUrstead Wood pond built by Froglife — Burstead Wood pond built by Froglife with Hollingbury and Burstead Woods volunteers

Join us to celebrate Hollingdean’s Wildlife Corridors and learn how to maintain ponds and other habitats too! Free event, all welcome.

Celebrate Hollingdean's Wildlife Corridors and learn how to maintain ponds and other habitats, November 2024

We have a lot to celebrate…the new orchard pond, the football field bog garden and many more small ponds and hibernaculum in community gardens and allotments and our own gardens

We want to say a BIG Thank You from Hollingdean to Will and Lily of Froglife -and to all the volunteers who built homes for frogs, toads, slow worms, lizards and many other wild creatures in 2024. We are really excited about the ponds, bog garden and hibernacula that are now wildlife havens in Hollingdean.

Many thanks also to Enjoolata Foundation for helping to fund all our new habitats this year

Join Froglife’s Will Johannson at this Neighbourhood Wildlife Corridor Forum and celebrate all the action for wildlife in Hollingdean and the city in 2024. Pick up more information on urban amphibian and reptile identification and how to manage and survey their habitats.

It will also be a chance to meet other groups who have been involved in creating Wildlife Corridors in the city. Groups can also collect habitat management and survey equipment.

When? Saturday 23rd November 2024, 2:00pm until 4:30pm. Doors from 1.30pm
Where? Hollingdean Community Centre, Thompson Road, Brighton, BN1 7BH

For the Growing Hollingdean Collective

Everyone is welcome to join the Tree Guardian volunteers on 3rd November 2024, 10 to 12 noon. Why not come along?

30th Oct 2024

Tree Guardian volunteers seen on Davey Drive and Southmount green mulching and pruning the Hollingdean fruit tree, 6 October 2024 — *Tree Guardian volunteers seen on Davey Drive and Southmount green mulching and pruning Hollingdean’s fruit trees on 6 October 2024*

Help us look after Hollingdean’s fruit trees

Last month eight Tree Guardian volunteers met at the shed on Lynchet Close at 10am and walked down to the green on the corner of Davey Drive and Southmount. Autumn is a great time to get cardboard and woodchip down to reduce the grasses around the base of these trees. They managed to finish this area, and took care of 014, 016, 017, 018 (all cherry plums), 022 plum tree and 020 pear tree. Very satisfying and easier when the temperature is cooler. Afterwards they celebrated with a cuppa and a catch up.

See our Tree Guardians page for all your meet up information

See our Tree Map for your nearest Hollingdean fruit or nut trees and let us know if you can care for it or if it needs attention. Training and support is available.

Thank you to the volunteers who made it, we look forward to seeing you and some new faces next time

To receive our latest Growing Hollingdean blog posts directly to your email please subscribe here:

See our events calendar see what we are up to.

We look forward to seeing you at our next event.

Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardians have been mulching at the community orchard

5th Jul 2024

Growing Hollingdean volunteer seen weeding on Brentwood Road in June 2024

Also seen weeding on Brentwood Road in June 2024

Thank you to the Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardian volunteers who have been up at the Hollingdean Community Orchard, clearing grass and spreading the wood chip around the base of the trees. This is all free exercise anyone can take part in, from shovelling woodchip and wheeling the barrow, to sitting and pulling up grass around the tree roots. We love to see new faces, even if it is just to chat about the weather.

Tree Guardians meet on Sunday 7th July 2024 at 10am on Lynchet Close

Join our volunteers on the first Sunday of the month, in all weathers at 10am to 12 midday. Please wear suitable clothing, sensible shoes, a drink and we will will be supply gloves and equipment. We look forward to meeting you.

Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardians have been mulching at the community orchard, June 2024 — Tree Guardian Volunteer

Why gardening (and all out door activities) is good for your body… and its FREE here

Thrive says Gardening is good for “Building muscle strength and flexibility, some gardening activities help keep your body flexible and build muscle strength. You can work out every major muscle group as you stretch, bend, lift, pull and push. This is particularly felt in your arms, legs, abdominals and back.” Plus it is fun!

Please go up and enjoy Hollingdean Community Orchard its behind Hollingdean Park. It is a beautiful quiet space for anyone to enjoy, and there is a bench and table for picnics.

If you would like to know more about our events or help out as a volunteer please email through our contact page here. We look forward to meeting you!

Our volunteers planted wild flowers at the Hollingdean Family Hub, June 2024

1st Jul 2024

Easy planting and chatter in the sunshine

A team consisting of Jo-seph, Claire, Asta, and a young helper joined forces to clear the large plants from the patch next to the Hollingdean Family Hub (it was Sure Start) on Brentwood Road. This effort allowed us to plant a variety of wild flower plugs provided by the Wildflowers Conservation Society at Stammer Park.

The wildflowers we planted include: – Sweet Violet – Oxeye Daisy – Foxglove – Corn Cockle – Dropwort – Kidney Vetch – Corn Marigold – Duck Mullein – Poppy – Purple Toadflax – Selfheal – Rock Rose – Scabious.

This initiative aims to enhance the biodiversity and beauty of our environment. We are excited to see these flowers bloom and contribute to our local ecosystem.

Thank you to our volunteers to making this happen. We hope to see you on our next time.

To receive our latest Growing Hollingdean blog posts directly to your email please subscribe here:

Froglife visit Three Beds Community Garden at Lynchet Close, Hollingdean

23rd May 2024

On Bank Holiday 6 May 2024

Froglife visited Lynchet Close, Three Beds Community Garden to help resident Growing Hollingdean volunteers install a ceramic sink wildlife pond into the garden. The hole was dug and the sink dropped to create a mini wildlife haven. Will from Froglife provided the plants and showed the volunteers the best way to plant them.

Grow Your Own Food in Small Spaces Free Event, 9th May 2024

8th May 2024

Thursday at Hollingdean Community Centre, 1pm to 2.30pm

Join Polly and Growing Hollingdean volunteers at Hollingdean Community Centre at 1pm to 2.30pm on Thursday 9th May 2024. We have spring onions, cherry bush tomatoes, lettuce, basil and thyme for you to plant up for free and take home to grow. See how they grow until they are ready to eat! All ages welcome.

Thank you to Andrew Amos at RAGS for growing these beautiful seedlings.

Real Junk Food Project ‘pay as you feel’ Café 12.30pm till 1.45pm

Also on Thursday’s at the Hollingdean Community Centre the Real Junk Food Project volunteers with be there cooking up some fabulous food on a ‘pay as you feel’ basis.

Tree Guardian Jo-seph donated to the Hollingdean community a wild pear tree

2nd Mar 2024

Tree Guardian Jo-seph give the Hollingdean community a wild pear tree, Growing Hollingean, February 2024

Growing Hollingdean Volunteers, February 2024

Jo-seph donated one of his birthday presents to the community in Hollingdean this month. He and Claire planted a wild pear sapling. They had some help from Donetsk and his friend, who willingly got stuck in hammering in sturdy chestnut stakes with the post driver. The stakes and fencing will help protect the young tree from mowers. And as it grows the young tree can be attached to the stakes to help it withstand strong winds that could otherwise rock it and weaken the root system.

Tree Guardian Jo-seph give the Hollingdean community a wild pear tree, Growing Hollingean, February 20224

Wild pears are thought to have been native in the UK since AD 995. As this one grows it will blossom beautifully in spring and tell us that winter is passing. A bit like it’s neighbour, the Hawthorn tree.

If you would like to donate a tree please contact us here.

Join us for the next Tree Guardians session on Sunday, 3rd March 2024

We also run monthly volunteer gardening sessions on the first Sunday of every month. These sessions provide practical fruit care training to volunteers, ensuring our local trees thrive. Meet 10am outside Sure Start Centre, Brentwood Road, Hollingdean Park. We look forward to meeting you.

Tree Guardians on Davey Drive bank mulched four cherry plum trees

17th Feb 2024

Tree Guardians on Davey Drive bank mulching cherry plum trees, February 2024. A wonderful area for insect and manuals to hibernate and feed. — *011 & 012 Cherry Plum Tree mulched*

Growing Hollingdean volunteers spent a couple of hours clearing the ivy and weeds away from the base of four cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera) trees. Then they laid cardboard down and covered it in a thick wood chip mulch. This bank is very steep, the volunteers managed to fill a bag of thrown beer cans from amongst the vegetation.

This is a wonderful area for insect and manuals to hibernate and feed

The Davey Drive bank is a very good area for the slow worms, they bask in the sunshine to warm up on this south facing bank. Frogs have also been seen here and in the gardens above. Please take time to look next time your passing.

Weeds, wild flowers and blossom are important to our insects

This area may look messy to our eyes but there will be bee’s, bugs and butterflies hibernating in the undergrowth. Such as the common blue butterfly which overwinters in larval form. The caterpillars will emerge in spring, feeding from the wild flowers beds here. The humming bird hawk moths are also seen in the summer on Davey Drive’s wild flowers and weeds.

We are lucky to have such beautiful nature on our door steps.

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

Growing Hollingdean Volunteers Create a New Flowerbed with Donated Plants

25th Aug 2023

Gardening behind the flats on Horton Road, Hollingdean

Leigh, one of Growing Hollingdean volunteers was given free plants from a local business. These plants were going to be thrown away and Leigh was there to rescue them. Together with free cardboard and woodchip, Leigh and Abbie set to creating a new flower bed behind the flats on Horton Road, Hollingdean.

Using skills learnt from a previous planting day lead by Jenny in the autumn of 2022, Leigh and Abbie picked a spot near a plum tree to bring in the insects to pollenate the tree and created a beautiful flowerbed for everyone to enjoy.

Create a flowerbed near you

If you would like to learn how to create a flowerbed near you, join us on one of our volunteer session and meet the gang who can help.

If you would like to know more about our events or help out as a volunteer please email through our contact page here. We look forward to meeting you!

Growing Hollingdean is a volunteer group of local residents that help develop community growing and wildlife spaces in the Hollingdean area

Sunday 18th January 10-12 at the Hollingdean Community Orchard, Hollingdean Park

Forest Gardening Volunteers December 2025

Thank you to Growing Hollindean volunteers who attended on 7th December 2025

Join us on 4th January 2026, 10am at Lynchet Close shed

Tree Guardians seen pruning Apple trees on 7th December 2025

A great selection of apple trees found here

Council Tenant Celebration Day, 13 September 2025

Front cover news for Two Trees Community Garden

Get Growing at Forest Garden, Hollingdean Community Orchard

Hollingdean Community Orchard’s broken bench removed, August 2025

Get Growing in Hollingdean, at the Forest Garden

Many thanks to all the volunteers – new and regulars – for weeding, mulching and watering.

If only we’d taken a photo of the bindweed mountain we made. Impressive effort, folks!

Plants from The Wild Flower Conservation Society

Take look at the new information sign, which explains more about the wildflower verge.

Meet at Lynchet Close shed – everyone welcome!

Last month Growing Hollingdean’s volunteer gardeners weeded and mulched trees on Sunday 2nd March 2025. Here is what they did.

Volunteers at Hollingdean Park Community Orchard

What we did on 9th February 2025 in Hollingdean Park

Thank you to all the Growing Hollingdean volunteers, Brighton & Hove Food Partnership, The Family Hub and Brighton Permaculture Trust who have all made this possible

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

Growing tips for February

Blossom to look out for during February in Hollingdean

Cherry Plum tree blossom in Hollingdean Brighton, February 2025

Sunday 1st December 2024 at Hollingdean Park

What our Tree Guardian Volunteers did on 3rd November 2024

Great to meet new volunteers

All welcome at Froglife’s Wildlife Corridors event on Saturday 23rd November 2024, 1.30-4.30pm, Hollingdean Community Centre, Thompson Road

Join us to celebrate Hollingdean’s Wildlife Corridors and learn how to maintain ponds and other habitats too! Free event, all welcome.

We have a lot to celebrate…the new orchard pond, the football field bog garden and many more small ponds and hibernaculum in community gardens and allotments and our own gardens

Many thanks also to Enjoolata Foundation for helping to fund all our new habitats this year

When? Saturday 23rd November 2024, 2:00pm until 4:30pm. Doors from 1.30pmWhere? Hollingdean Community Centre, Thompson Road, Brighton, BN1 7BH

Help us look after Hollingdean’s fruit trees

See our Tree Guardians page for all your meet up information

See our Tree Map for your nearest Hollingdean fruit or nut trees and let us know if you can care for it or if it needs attention. Training and support is available.

Thank you to the volunteers who made it, we look forward to seeing you and some new faces next time

See our events calendar see what we are up to.

Also seen weeding on Brentwood Road in June 2024

Tree Guardians meet on Sunday 7th July 2024 at 10am on Lynchet Close

Why gardening (and all out door activities) is good for your body… and its FREE here

Easy planting and chatter in the sunshine

On Bank Holiday 6 May 2024

Thursday at Hollingdean Community Centre, 1pm to 2.30pm

Real Junk Food Project ‘pay as you feel’ Café 12.30pm till 1.45pm

Growing Hollingdean Volunteers, February 2024

Join us for the next Tree Guardians session on Sunday, 3rd March 2024

This is a wonderful area for insect and manuals to hibernate and feed

Weeds, wild flowers and blossom are important to our insects

Gardening behind the flats on Horton Road, Hollingdean

Create a flowerbed near you

When? Saturday 23rd November 2024, 2:00pm until 4:30pm. Doors from 1.30pm
Where? Hollingdean Community Centre, Thompson Road, Brighton, BN1 7BH