Join us for Tree Guardians this Sunday Morning

10-12noon, 7th June 2026

Tree Guardian Volunteers planting around Hollingdean's tree first Sunday in May 2026

Join our volunteers meet at just before 10am at colourful shed on Lynchet Close for a couple of hours of light gardening around our many fruit and nut trees on Hollingdean estate. See our map for your nearest trees here. One of our Growing Hollingdean volunteers will talk through the mornings plan, including with some Health & Safety tips. If you have a young tree near you please, please water it, thank you.

Click here to add to your calendar, everyone welcome.

Tree Guardian Volunteers planting around Hollingdean's tree first Sunday in May 2026

What we did on the first Sunday in May 2026

Seven volunteers arrived at the shed on Sunday 7th May 2026, to help Jo-seph plant and sew seeds around the bottom of the local tree to create a tree guilds (gardens). We started at the shed, tree number 177, a Red Devil Apple where bulbs, apple mint (Mentha suaveolens) planted earlier in the year. We planted some chives and strawberries while Jo-seph explained all about guilds.

Apple Tree 076 Brentwood Road, Hollingdean. Looked after by volunteers

Apple Tree 076 is looking very pretty with its Ground Ivy around the base creating a natural guild

Over the road to numbers 078, 077, 076, 075 and 074 on Brentwood Road we weeded and scatters seeds and planted strawberry plants. We would really apricate it if you are able to water these young plants in the dry weather. Visit our Tree Map here.

Tree Guardian Volunteers planting around Hollingdean's tree on Merevale the first Sunday in May 2026

Round the corner at Merevale we pulled out the stinging nettles and cleavers from around tree numbers 191 Plum, 190 Apple, and 189 Apple trees. Planted strawberries plants and scattered seeds such as Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus), Nigella flowers and wildflowers such as Corn Marigolds.

New bench at Hollingdean Community Orchard and Forest Garden
A new bench in the Forest Garden, 2025

Help us make Hollingdean beautiful!

Look out for the tiny snowdrops at Mountfields wild flower verge 2025
Lots of bulbs & wildflowers planted in 2024 & 2025

Hollingdean Fruit & Nut Tree Name Labels 2025

Our volunteers are making signs for our trees in Brighton

Growing Hollingdean Fruit & Nut Tree Name Labels 2025
Hollingdean Fruit Tree Name Label, January 2025

Growing Hollingdean look after 323 fruit and nut trees in the Hollingdean, Brighton area. These are found on the wonderful green spaces we have between our homes. These new tree labels, are hand painted by volunteers, to help volunteers identify them accurately to give them the care they need. And you to know what sort of tree they are and when they will fruit.

Anyone can join us to look after these trees. We really appreciate it when you report to us if they are damaged. If you are able to mulch and weed around a tree too, that is fantastic! Most important of all- please can enjoy their blossom, their shade and their fruit or nuts. All the wildlife will too including birds, small mammals and the insects we really all want to thrive.

See our Tree map here.

The Growing Hollingdean tree map shows where all the different trees are located. You will see how each tree species- the Latin name- is shown. Also, when to prune it, when it flowers and when it fruits. Why not join us to survey the trees or paint some labels?

Wanted FREE roof tiles for a community project in Hollingdean

Growing Hollingdean volunteers are looking for free roof tiles to print tree name labels in Brighton. Please contact us (below) if you have some and will will arrange collection. Thank you so much.

Growing Tips for February – Salad leaves indoors

Grow salad leaves at this time of year cut and come again lettuce or rocket will grow indoors on a window sill. Keep watering and you will see them start to grow in a few weeks. Get the kids involved, here’s how. One pack of seed will go a long way. Why not give a seeded pot to a family member or friend?

The RHS says, “More colourful, diverse and tasty than pre-packed supermarket offerings, home-grown salad leaves are quick and easy to grow. As well as an array of lettuce varieties, you can grow all manner of other tasty leaves, including mizuna, rocket and mustard. They take up little space and can be picked repeatedly, for delicious salads across the seasons.”

Join us for our next tree guardian morning. Email us through our contact page here to let us know your coming.