Join Growing Hollingdean volunteers for some Forest Gardening at Hollingdean Orchard
Meet at 10am at our colourful shed on Lynchet Close on Sunday 19th April 2026. Meet at 10am at the Lynchet shed to collect gloves and tools. Everyone welcome.
What we did on 15th March 2026 in the Hollingdean Orchard
Volunteers cleared nettles, moved rogue raspberries, general weeding and mulching trees big and small! Lovely to have new folks along too! Think we had 11 or 12 people in total. We had possibly one of our youngest participants at just 6 weeks old too!
And we had a go at some weed ID-ing. Think we got: nettle, sow thistle, creeping buttercup, wild geranium, hairy bittercress, speedwell, cleavers, and we talked through the difference between cow parsley and hemlock. We’re learning all the time.
Oh, plenty of litter picking and we very much enjoyed The Bench. We’ve been putting perennial weeds on the dead hedge around the pond btw which should rot down well without risking spreading everywhere.
Climate for Communities with Polly, Hollingdean Outreach Worker
We meet at Growing Hollingdean shed on the corner of Brentwood Road and Lynchet Close at 10am. We wait 10 minutes before going on to our location within the estate. One of our Growing Hollingdean volunteers will talk through the mornings plan, give out equipment, including some Health & Safety tips. It’s free fitness, a chance to make new friends, and we always have a good laugh along the way.
Tree Guardians seen in Merevale Orchard 1st February 2026
Five volunteers braved the rain (and a child) pruned nine pip fruit trees in Merevale Orchard and the top of Brentwood Road. A small bag of litter was collected from near these trees, caring for the community we live in. A very satisfying morning and looking forward to tasty fruit on these trees. Well done volunteers.
075 Apple Tree: Pitmaston Pineapple
Pitmaston Pineapple is an old English russet apple tree variety known for its small, golden-yellow fruits with a distinct sweet, sharp, and nutty flavour, often described as having a hint of pineapple. This heritage apple is suitable for smaller gardens and is resistant to scab disease.
076 Apple Tree: Forfar
Forfar apple tree is a traditional, moderately vigorous variety that produces large, dual-purpose (eating and cooking) fruit with a rich, sweet, aromatic flavour. The apple has firm, crisp, juicy, yellow flesh with a rich, sweet, aromatic flavour.
077 Apple Tree: Discovery
Discovery apple tree is a popular, early-season English dessert variety (introduced 1949) known for its bright red, crisp, and juicy fruit with hints of strawberry, often ready to harvest from mid-August.
078 Apple Tree: Heredforshire
Herefordshire Russet is a modern (2002), compact, and self-fertile dessert apple tree with golden-brown fruit, known for its rich, aromatic Cox-like flavour.
176, 178, 180 & 181 Apple Tree’s, either Sturmer or Lord Derby or Reinette Clochard or Hindlip Cultivar
Let us know if you can help to identify which tree you think apples are, we are always on the look out for volunteer tree surveyors.
Sturmer Pippin was an important English apple in the Victorian period, esteemed because of its excellent keeping qualities. Rated by the Victorian writer Hogg as “of first-rate excellence”. A crisp, juicy, and sharply flavoured green-yellow fruit that turns orange-brown. The tree is vigorous, hardy, and highly productive.
Lord Derby is an English cooking apple tree, a large, firm, attractive, bright green fruit with a distinctive ribbed angular shape.
These apples look like Reinette Clochard?
Reinette Clochard is a highly-regarded French heirloom dessert apple, originating from the Deux-Sèvres region in the 19th century. Known as a “vagrant” (Clochard), this tree is vigorous, reliable, and scab-resistant. The fruit is medium-sized, firm, and yellow with russet freckles, offering a sweet-tart, aromatic flavor that stores well.
Lord Hindlip is a traditional, late-season English dessert / eating apple, originating from Worcestershire in the late 19th century. Known for its excellent keeping qualities until March, this hardy, ornamental tree produces firm, cream-fleshed, heavily crimson-flushed yellow-green fruit. It is a versatile, crisp, and aromatic variety.
183 Apple Tree: Saltcote Pippin
Saltcate Pipin is a medium to large dessert / eating apple. Cream coloured, firm flesh that is juicy, sweet, aromatic, and rich in flavour. A fascinating skin texture which resembles finely hand-beaten copper due to the minute ‘dimples’ on the surface.
Tree Guardian Mornings – First Sunday of the month, 10am to 12pm!
Today’s Forest Gardening 10-12 CANCELLED due to illness. Many apologies! Watch this space as we may slot in another event before December. Thanks folks 🌿
Meet at the Lynchet Road Shed
Join us for a fun few hours 10-12pm on Sunday 16 November 2025 for Forest Gardening, learning and sharing. Everyone welcome to join the Growing Hollingdean volunteers in the park.
Our Forest Gardening in October
What a productive time in the Forest Garden on Sunday 19 October 2025, our Growing Hollingdean volunteers managed to beat the rain. We weeded, mulched apple trees, chatted, cleared some Cherry Plum suckers and nettles.
Wildflowers planted in the Forest Garden this Autumn
Volunteers were very excited to be planting wildflowers around the orchard, purchased from Wildflower Conservation Society and paid for with funds raised from the plant fair in April, a bigthank you to you. These included Common Columbine / Aquilegiavulgaris, Common Vetch / Vicia sativa, Selfheal / Prunellavulgaris, Foxglove / Digitalis, Primrose / Primulavulgaris, Achillea / Achilleamillefolium and Fox and Cubs / Pilosellaaurantiaca.
Do you know why ‘Fox and Cubs’ native plant has that name?
A ‘Fox and cub’ plant a hairy herbaceous perennial and is visited by bees for nectar and pollen. Is it a vibrant, burnt orange colour (like a fox) but the larger open flower (the ‘fox’) often shelters unopened buds (the ‘cubs’). Funnily enough, we didn’t see our actual fox this time in the park – usually it likes to keep an eye on what we’re doing and our snacks – which we keep well out of its way of course.
Banana ripening trick for the Sharon Fruit
Sharon Fruit Tree in Hollingdean Park Orchard
The Sharon fruit weren’t quite ready to eat at snack time (we’re experimenting with ripening them in a paper bag with a ripe banana). We all enjoyed a cup of Bengal Spice tea, said to be good for its melatonin stimulating properties and various other goodies. Yummy after our satisfying few hours of weeding.
Join the Growing Hollingdean volunteers for gardening activities at the Hollingdean Park Community Orchard & Food ForestGarden, click here. Explore our Edible Hedge and meet the Tree Guardians, who’ll share their knowledge about Hollingdean’s fruit and nut trees.
Plus, enjoy a full day of activities:
🎲 Games in the Orchard with Helen (Brighton & Hove Food Partnership) — 10am–4pm 🍎 Apple Juicing with Stephan (Brighton Permaculture Trust) — 12pm–4pm ☕ Free Refreshments throughout the day 👩🍳 Cookery Demonstration with Anna Schwarz at the Hollingdean Family Hub — Sign up for a free lunch! 📖 Afternoon Storytelling with Shelia — from 2pm 🎶 Traditional Appalachian Folk Music — from 2:30pm
Come along, join in, and celebrate community, food, and nature together! Rain or shine we will be there!!
Saturday 27 September, Mountfields Triangle, 10am-12pm, Rain or Shine!
Join the Growing Hollingdean volunteers for our annual wildflower meadow cutting on Saturday 27th September2025. We’ll meet at 10am at the Growing Hollingdean shed on the corner of Brentwood Road and Lynchet Close to collect equipment (or bring your own), before walking down to the wildflower triangle behind the 50 bus stop at Mountfields and The Crestway (in pink). Together we’ll be cutting the meadow with shears and scythes, and planting wildflower plants and bulbs using trowels and gloves. Come along, lend a hand, and help care for our beautiful community wildflower meadow!
Free Event Hollingdean, Brighton this September 2025
Join us and learn how to care for your Hollingdean fruit and nut trees. This Sunday 7th September 2025, meet us at the Growing Hollingdean shed on the corner of Brentwood Road and Lynchet Close at 10am.
Tree Guardian Mornings – First Sunday of the month, 10am to 12pm!
Tree Guardians pruning stone fruit trees in August 2025
214 Plum Tree249 Plum Tree237 Plum Tree
Sarahjane and Polly led the Tree Guardians session on 3rd August 2025. Thank you to the seven volunteers who took part in the giggles… and pruning. We managed to get round about 20 trees on Stephens Road (tree numbers 204 to 217) and Horton Road (tree numbers 258 to 266). We were pruning stone fruit trees, taking off damaged branches and some light weeding. Plum tree 249 is huge, behind flats on Horton Road and was ladened with lovely plums. It’s lower branches were pruned to let more light in to the fruit. Some green plums were perfect for turning into yummy chutney. The volunteers enjoyed a free feast of plums, too, as they roamed the streets. We also found an intriguing wooden sculpture on 039 Apple Tree near the entrance to the Linkway. This made us all smile.
Learn to prune on YouTube
Learn how to prune stone fruit trees by watching our video. Please let us know which tree number you have pruned so we can add it to our list. With over 300 trees and a slow growing volunteer group we could do with all the help we can get.
How to weed around a fruit tree video
We remove grass and weeds from around the base of a tree, this helps the tree grow stronger without competition for nutrients and water. Tree’s are very important for cleaning our air, creating shade, sucking up excess water and providing us with free food. With only a few minutes gardening can give so much back to us.
What our Tree Guardians did on Sunday 1st June 2025
073 Cherry Plum212 Plum
A huge thank you to our incredible Tree Guardians! With the help of eight dedicated volunteers, we mulched 13 to fruit trees along Stephens Road (see our map) as part of our new maintenance plan. We carefully weeded around each tree, since weeds compete for vital water and nutrients. Then we laid down cardboard as a natural weed barrier. If you would like to join in next time, bring suitable clothing for the weather and sunscreen. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
211 Mulberry Tree214 Plum Tree
Gardeners World recommends using three overlapping layers of plain cardboard (no ink or tape!) for best results. On top of that, we added mulch made from woodchip or grass clippings. This helps suppress any remaining weeds, locks in moisture, and feeds the soil as it breaks down. Thanks to everyone involved — our trees are thriving because of you!
Please donate your cardboard boxes, there is a designated area at the Lynchet Close shed. If you can flatten them it would be much appreciated, thank you.
Tree Guardians litter pick in Hollingdean
Before litter pickAfter litter pick
We had a spare 20 minutes during Tree Guardians, and when we walked past this pile of dumped rubbish, we just couldn’t ignore it. What a powerful reminder that small acts of kindness can make a big difference. Big love to the Tree Guardians. Thank you!
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 volunteerswho made this possible.
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!
199 Plum Tree073 Cherry Plum Tree
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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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!
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!
Walnut Tree Number 186Plum Tree Number 184
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.
Apple Tree Number 188Apple Tree Number 188
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Hollingdean Summer Street Fair, Sunday 18th August 2024 10am to 1pm
Sunday 18th August 2024, 10am to 1pm – join in the car less boot sale!
Inspired by Hollingdean car less boot sale in 2020, put your walking shoes on and get out looking for some bargains or set up a table, mat or rail outside your house / flat to sell! Click here for google map to view all the locations, you to be signed into google. Email Jo-seph on summerstreetfair@gmail.com with your address and what you be selling and he will add you to the map. Sign up now!
Growing Hollingdean and Froglife at Hollingdean Community Orchard
Growing Hollingdean and Froglife will be at Hollingdean Community Orchard, at the back of Hollingdean Park on 18th August as part of the street fair. This free event welcomes everyone. Join us and chat to the volunteers about Hollingdean’s wildlife pond and street tree’s. We look forward to meeting youand please share.
Growing Hollingdean volunteer seen weeding on Brentwood Road in June 2024
Also seen weeding on Brentwood Road in June 2024
Mulching at Hollingdean Community Orchard
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.
Tree Guardian VolunteerHollingdean Community Orchard, June 2024Wood chip pile at the Orchard
Why gardening (and all out door activities) is good for your body… and its FREEhere
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.
Apple Tree 238 mulched with wood chip by volunteers
5th May 2024 Tree Guardians, 10am to 12pm @ Hollingdean Park entrance
Plum Tree 035 & 036 on Davey Drive
We meet at the noticeboard by the entrance to Hollingdean Park on the junction of Lynchet Close and Brentwood Close. You will see our shed on the opposite verge. Join us for tree gardening somewhere in the local area. Wear appropriate clothing / shoes for the weather and bring a drink. We can supply gloves and tools.
6th May 2024, Monday Bank Holiday, Froglife pond planting and picnic
Froglife pond and hibernaculum build in Hollingdean Park, May 2024
Hollingdean Park Community Orchard, 10am to 2pm
Join Growing Hollingdean volunteers on the May Bank Holiday with Froglife for aquatic pond planting and bank gardening and mulching the fruit trees. Fingers crossed the rain will have filled the pond by then! Please wear appropriate clothing and bring a drink. If you would like to celebrate the new pond with us, bring a picnic too. It is a great time to stop and chat, get together and catch up with our volunteers.
Froglife pond and hibernaculum build in Hollingdean Park, May 2024
Please share with friends and family and we look forward to seeing your there.
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 volunteerswho made this possible.
Fun was had on a very wet morning on 17th March, some of our volunteers and their friends met up for a silent disco litter pick. Yes- they danced and sang round the Hollingdean estate!
Tickets were free on Eventbrite with only 14 headsets where avaiable and bookings went fast. Well done to those who took part, filling 23 bags of rubbish. What a great way to have a laugh, some fitness and do your bit for the community on a very, very dull Sunday morning!
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 volunteerswho made this possible.
Can’t make our volunteering day on the first Sunday of the month?
Not a problem! There are additional days when we meet up. Our volunteers have a Whatsapp group and Jo-seph gathers our Tree Guardians together for extra volunteering days. Join us for fresh air, free fitness, for a couple of hours on Sunday morning. We will be either digging, staking, or mulching, combined with great chatter and laughter.
It was a cold bright Sunday in January 2024 when volunteers got together to plant young apple trees to replace the trees that had died. Our trees live in very harsh conditions, staking keeps them safe from the wind and strimmer’s. Growing Hollingdean volunteers raise money to buy stakes and acquire free wood chip locally.
Gardening and the Real Junk Food lunch in December, 2023
Polly and Abbie our Growing Hollingdean volunteers, enjoyed some gardening at Hollingdean Community Centre today and lovely lunch with the Real Junk Food Project. They also bumped into Svenja and Emma, Tree Guardians with their gorgeous babies.
Polly says“Abbie and I removed weeds from the flowerbeds and spread nine bags of woodchip around the base of the trees, oon the beds and baby walnut at the top of Thompson Road. I moved a climbing rose from the planter to the flowerbed, planted Shasta daisies and miscanthus grass, spread some delicious compost created by the Tumblr and added cyclamen from Shirley the Centre Manager to the hanging baskets and planter.”
We recommend popping down to see the garden at the Hollingdean Community Centre and enjoy the events. The Real Junk Food Project is on Thursdays 12.30pm to 1.45pm @ Hollingdean Community Centre – donations or pay as you can.
If interested in helping with the community centre garden please email Polly via growinghollingdean@gmail.com or see where your local garden is here.
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 volunteerswho made this possible.
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.
Qunine Tree 087 and Apple Tree 086, Brentwood Road, November 2023Elderflower tree 082, Apple Tree 080, Cornelian Cherry Tree 080, Brentwood Road, November 2023Brentwood Road, November 2023
Why use woody mulches around the garden? The RHS says…
Left to right Nicky, Karen, Polly and Holly, Brentwood Road Tree Guardians
Join us for our next tree guardian morning. Email us through our contact page here to let us know your coming.
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 volunteerswho made this possible.
For FREE Tree Care event on Sunday 3rd December 2023, 10am -12pm
This week is National Tree Week 2023 and this weekend Hollingdean’s Tree Guardian volunteers are celebrating with a special FREE Tree Care event on Sunday 10am -12pm… Meet us by the Children’s Centre, Lynchet Close at 10.00 on Sunday 3rd December 2023. New volunteers are very welcome, especially if you are interested in the fruit and nut trees on Stephen’s Road, Horton Road and Davey Drive. It is friendly and fun in the fresh air and no special knowledge is needed. Training given.
Did you know… Hollingdean is really special with 282+ fruit and nut trees in our verges and green spaces (plums, apples, pears, mulberry’s, figs, hazels, walnuts and more). They all need regular mulching and pruning to produce beautiful crops for everyone to share. Mulching around a fruit tree can double its chances of survival and triple its growth in its first 3 years! And, growing trees in cities gives us much needed shade helping to cool temperatures by up to 12 degrees? That’s a lot of benefit from our lovely trees. #NationalTreeWeek or #GrowATree or https://treecouncil.org.uk/
We look forward to meeting you.Thank you to our regular volunteers.
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On Sunday 12th November 2023, 10.30 to 12.30 at Flats 119-129
Come and join us to extend to our flowerbed! We will be adding more plants to the flower bed in front of flats 119-129 Horton Road, with the help of Growing Hollingdean volunteers and their gardening equipment. No experience needed, we will all be learning together.
Horton Road’s new flowerbed has been really successful this year!
Be part of this exciting project to bring our community together, improve our green spaces for us and for the insects and bee’s to benefit too. Join us to see the flowerbed grow, we look forward to seeing you there.
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Thank you to the October 2023 Tree Guardian Volunteers
Our Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardians volunteers gathered together at Hollingdean Park orchard on the first Sunday of September, 2023. We gave the fruit tree’s a much needed woodchip bed to suppress the tall grasses, lots of digging and wheel barrowing share amounts the group. Repairs were also made to the bee boxes and raspberries were harvested. We also found lots of insects and a frog hiding under a log.
It was a fun two hours of free fitness, fresh air and with much laughter, perfect for our metal health and wellbeing.
Next Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardians 5th November 2023
The next Tree Guardian gathering is Sunday morning, 5th November 2023 at the Sure Start Centre, the entrance to Hollingdean Park. We look forward to seeing you.
The Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardians volunteers were out and about with our local tree expert, Jenni. She showed us how to harvest fruit and thin it to create space for the remaining apples, pears and plums to grow bigger. Why not try picking some yourself now? It is ready to eat and there for everyone to share.
Thank you to all the September volunteers
We are look forward to meeting for the next Tree Guardians session on Sunday 1st October 2023. Contact Growing Hollingdeanhere if you would like to join us. Or meet us at the Hollingdean Children’s Centre (Sure Start) on Brentwood Road at 10am. Bring water and suitable clothes for the weather. Training and support is given. We will wait 10 minutes before going to our location. See you there!
Join us for our next tree guardian morning. Email us through our contact page here to let us know your coming.
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 volunteerswho made this possible.
The Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardians were at Merevale Brighton in August 2023
Join our group of volunteers in Hollingdean
The Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardians were at Merevale on 13 August 2023. Clearing the weeds from around the trees and installing new tree guards. One of the old tree guards was causing more damage than helping. These guard protect our trees so they grow big and strong. See our tree map.
We are looking forward to meeting again for the next Tree Guardian session on Sunday 3rd September 2023. Contact Growing Hollingdeanhere if you would like to join in and to let you know where we will be. One of our Growing Hollingdean volunteers will give everyone training and support. Please wear suitable clothing for the weather and bring a drink and a snack if needed. Equipment will be supplied (under 18’s must to be accompanied by a parent/guardian).
Thank you to all the August volunteers for helping out in Hollingdean
Our Tree Guardian Sessions run the first Sunday 10am-12noon every month. We meet outside Hollingdean Children’s Centre (Sure Start) on Brentwood Road. We will wait 10 minutes before going to our location.
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 volunteerswho made this possible.
The Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardians were at Dryads Community Orchard on Golf Drive in Hollingdean the first Sunday in July 2023. Jo-seph, our lead Tree Guardian, showed everyone how to use a scythe and cut their way through the long grass. After a safety briefing other gardening and tree care tasks were carried out, such as weeding and mulching around the trees and the newly planted soft fruit bushes.
Trees found at Dryads Community Orchard 090 Plum, 091 Apple, 092 Apple, 093 Apple, 094 Black Elder, 095 Apple, 096 Apple, 097 Apple & 098 Hazel Hedge
Thank you to all the July volunteers for helping out in Hollingdean
We are looking forward to meeting again for the next Tree Guardian session, change of date to Sunday 13th August 2023. Contact Growing Hollingdeanhere if you would like to join in and to let you know where we will be.
Join us for our next tree guardian morning. Email us through our contact page here to let us know your coming.
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 volunteerswho made this possible.
First Sunday in May, our Tree Guardians where on Horton Road, Hollingdean. 032 Mirabelle Tree
Our local volunteer Tree Guardians spent a couple of hours clearing weeds and grasses away from the base of some fruit and nut trees. Based near the community notice board on Horton Road on a this beautiful May Sunday morning.
A couple of the Cherry Plum trees required a little pruning today
Jenni talked us through the gardening process with some health and safety tips before we started. She also explains how, when and what to prune on this Cherry Plum tree. She also taught us the correct way to use the Growing Hollingdean secateurs.
First Sunday in May our Tree Guardians where on Horton Road gardening, this is one of the Cherry Plum trees in fruit
See our Growing Hollingdean tree map here to find all the tree’s we care for.
If you love being in nature, join us the first Sunday of the month for a spot of community gardening and chatter.
Join our volunteer Tree Guardians group next month
Join our volunteer Tree Guardians for a few hours on the first Sunday of the month. A small group of locals get together to weed, mulch and learn about the fruit and nut trees in Hollingdean.
Email to say you are coming or just turn up, we usually meet at the Hollingdean Park entrance community notice board. See you on the 2nd July 2023!
Join us for our next tree guardian morning. Email us through our contact page here to let us know your coming.
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 volunteerswho made this possible.
Have you ever noticed the many fruit and nut trees around Hollingdean? They were planted by Brighton Permaculture Trust (BPT) and are now in the care of Growing Hollingdean by our Tree Guardian volunteers.
Growing Hollingdean volunteer Tree Guardians, May 2023
They were plant to increase biodiversity, food security, and to reduce carbon while capturing carbon.
Would you like to become a Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardian?
Our Tree Care Sessions run the first Sunday 10am-12noon every month. We meet outside Hollingdean Children’s Centre (Sure Start) on Brentwood Road. We will wait 10 minutes before going to our location.
One of our Growing Hollingdean volunteers will give everyone training and support. Our task is to care for the trees by clearing the weeds, mulching with woodchip, pruning dead branches and checking for damages and disease. See our Tree Map for all the trees in our area.
Please wear suitable clothing for the weather and bring a drink and a snack if needed. Equipment will be supplied (under 18’s must to be accompanied by a parent/guardian).
Join us for our next tree guardian morning. Email us through our contact page here to let us know your coming.
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 volunteerswho made this possible.
Sunday 30th April 2023, 10am – 12pm @ Hollingdean Sure Start Centre
Come for a guided walk with us to explore the beauty of 250+ fruit and nut trees across Hollingdean. While the apple and cherry trees are in blossom. We will end in a orchard where we can talk with like minded people.
Growing Hollingdean Blossom Walk April 2023
Tickets are free on Everbrite
Click here for your free ticket. Please wear suitable footwear and clothing (under 18s need to be accompanied by an parent or guardian).
This morning the Tree Guardians had the pleasure of installing several bee hotels and a new information sign in Hollingdean Community Orchard, behind the Sure Start Centre.
Beth Nicholls from Sussex Uni, Brighton
These were provided by Beth Nicholls from Sussex Uni with support from Brighton Permaculture Trust. After a cold start, it turned into a beautiful sunny morning and several bees came out to see what we were up to! The orchard is looking stunning as the blossom starts to come out – why not visit and have a picnic.
Tree Guardians helping out in the Hollingdean Orchard
Tree Guardians are a group of volunteers who get together once a month to care for the local fruit and nut trees.
University of Sussex pollination research, Hollingdean, Brighton
Please go to Hollingdean Park and see the orchard and it beautiful new sign.
Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardian Volunteers at Two Tree Community Garden, March 2023
Have you ever noticed the many fruit and nut trees around Hollingdean?
They were planted by Brighton Permaculture Trust (BPT) and are now in the care of Growing Hollingdean (GH) by our Tree Guardian volunteer. They were planted to increase biodiversity, food security, and to reduce carbon while capturing carbon.
Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardian Volunteers on a grey Sunday morning, March 2023
Would you like to become a Tree Guardian? Or come to our Tree care session?
We can give you training and support. The Tree Care Sessions run the first Sunday 10-12pm every month. Meet outside Hollingdean Children’s Centre (SureStart) and we will wait 10 minutes before moving to our location. Our tasks will be to mulched with woodchips, prune, check for damage and disease. Under 18’s need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please wear suitable clothing for the weather and bring a drink and a snack if needed.
Well done to those who joined us on a grey March Sunday morning!
Join us for our next tree guardian morning. Email us through our contact page here to let us know your coming.
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 volunteerswho made this possible.
Growing Hollingdean Volunteers creating Polka Dot Wild Flower Beds. Planted in Hollingdean. February 2023.
Our Growing Hollingdean volunteers enjoyed a wonderful couple of hours in February 2023 at the triangle of grass near Mountfields bus stop. Ben Bennatt, a local ecologist, showed us the best way to cut and turn the grass over in a circle to plant seeds and plants.
Everyone was very proud of what they had achieved
Growing Hollingdean Volunteers creating Polka Dot Wildflower Beds. Planted in Hollingdean. February 2023.
Local neighbours joined us and helped with planting their own polka dot circle with seeds and plants. A Mountfield neighbour supplied water for the plants.
Thank you all your help, it was a great turn out and everyone enjoyed cake and treats at the end.
Wild Flowers are important in Hollingdean
Our small selection of wildflower plants and seeds will help bees, butterflies and other creatures to thrive. In turn, we can all enjoy beautiful flowers and better fruits and vegetable crops.
Supported and thanks to Brighton & Hove City Council and St Matthias Fund
See what Brighton & Hove Council are up too with our verges, click here.
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Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardian Volunteers mulching and litter picking, February 2023
Join our volunteer Tree Guardians group next month
Join our volunteer Tree Guardians for a few hours on the first Sunday of the month. A small group of locals get together to weed, mulch and learn about the fruit and nut trees in Hollingdean.
Gloves and equipment will be supplied
We can give you training and support. The Tree Care Sessions run the first Sunday 10-12pm every month. Meet outside Hollingdean Children’s Centre (SureStart) and we will wait 10 minutes before moving to our location. Our tasks will be to mulched with woodchips, prune, check for damage and disease. Under 18’s need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please wear suitable clothing for the weather and bring a drink and a snack if needed.
Join us for our next tree guardian morning. Email us through our contact page here to let us know your coming.
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 volunteerswho made this possible.
Thank you to our wonderful tree guardians at our Tree Care Session, braving the rain – true hero’s of the fruit trees!
Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardians on a damp Sunday in October 2022
Wonderful to see new and regular volunteers with big smiles
Today we cleaned the grass / weeds from under the trees to reduce competition and then mulched with wood chips / grass clippings to create a barrier from moisture and too keep the heat in the ground while it breaks down, putting the carbon back into the ground. We looked for disease and damage to the trees (under 18s will need to be accompanied by a parent / guardian).
Tree Care Sessions run every first Sunday of the month 10am-12noon. We meet outside Sure Start Centre, Lynchet Close and we will wait for 10 mins for everyone to arrive.
Next session: 6th November 2022
Join us for our next tree guardian morning. Email us through our contact page here to let us know your coming.
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 volunteerswho made this possible.
The fruit trees across Hollingdean are looking amazing thanks to our Tree guardians volunteers which session run every first Sunday of the month meet at sure start centre 10am we will wait for 10 mins before leaving and the session ends at 12noon.
Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardians August 2022
In these session you will learn about how to care for fruit trees like how to prune, mulching, water and looking for damage/ disease.
Join us for our next tree guardian morning. Email us through our contact page here to let us know your coming.
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 volunteerswho made this possible.
Thank you to the people who came to todays tree care sessions who battled through the rain and wind. Tree care session run every first Sunday of each month.
Our volunteers mulching a Cherry Plum tree in Hollingdean Park
Cherry Plum Tree number 161
One of our Growing Hollingdean volunteers will give everyone training and support. Our task is to care for the trees by clearing the weeds, mulching with woodchip, pruning dead branches and checking for damages and disease. See our Tree Map for all the trees in our area.
Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardians February 2022
Join us for our next tree guardian morning. Email us through our contact page here to let us know your coming.
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 volunteerswho made this possible.
A group of volunteers from Lynchet Close Community Garden (3 Beds) planted a native hedge planted as a defence for rubbish being blown into the nearby woods.
They planted hawthorn, hazel, field maple, dog wood, dog rose and willow. We also planted a couple of sage plants at the base.
Have you ever noticed the many fruit and nut trees around Hollingdean? They were planted by Brighton Permaculture Trust (BPT) and are now in the care of Growing Hollingdean (GH) by our Tree Guardian volunteers.
Tree Guardians plant a new fruit tree January 2023
Join our small group of volunteers in Hollingdean
They were plant to increase biodiversity, food security, and to reduce carbon while capturing carbon.
Would you like to become a Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardian?
Our Tree Care Sessions run the first Sunday 10am-12noon every month. We meet outside Hollingdean Children’s Centre (Sure Start) on Brentwood Road. We will wait 10 minutes before going to our location.
A Growing Hollingdean volunteer will give everyone training and support. Our task is care for the trees by clearing the weeds, mulching with woodchip, pruning dead branches and checking for damages and disease.
Please wear suitable clothing for the weather and bring a drink and a snack if needed. Equipment will be supplied.
(Under 18’s must to be accompanied by a parent/guardian)
Growing Hollingdean volunteers have been busy the last two Fridays… with plants donated by Brighton Permaculture Trust and with help from members of Growing Hollingdean and the local community we’ve been planting nut trees, soft fruit bushes (some spikey!) and Eleagnus a nitrogen fixer around Brentwood Road, Two Trees Community garden on Tavistock Down, Merevale, The Crestway and Hollingdean Park, Dryads Community Orchard and a few last ones later this week on Horton Road.
These will provide food for the community in the future and improve biodiversity in our local eco systems as well as looking beautiful and soaking up carbon as they grow.
Volunteers planting new nut trees soft fruit bushes in March 2021
Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardians planting new trees in March 2021
Growing Hollingdean 