Volunteer gardening – Growing Hollingdean

Join Us for Tree Guardian Morning!

27th Oct 2026

Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardians on 4th October 2026 on Davy Drive mulching trees

Sunday, 1st November 2026, at 10am

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.

Let’s come together, make a difference, and help our local environment thrive!

What our volunteers did on 4th October 2026

A glorious sunny October morning in Hollingdean!

Fourteen wonderful volunteers (and one very welcome baby!) met on Davey Drive, where a huge pile of woodchip was waiting to be moved. People of all ages, from their 20s to their 60s, and of all abilities, joined together to fill wheelbarrows and trugs with woodchip and spread it around our fruit trees across our wonderful green spaces.

Microorganisms, bacteria and beneficial fungi!

The woodchip pile was already warm and beginning to break down, alive with microorganisms, bacteria and beneficial fungi. As it decomposes, it helps nourish the soil, retain moisture and protect the roots of our trees. Our new volunteers quickly learned the process, with plenty of fun, chat and smiles along the way. A lovely neighbour even brought us water to keep everyone refreshed in the sunshine. And a big thank you to Jo-Steph for providing the cake, always an important part of any volunteering session!

Volunteers managed to mulch from trees from 014 Cherry Plum through to 070 Walnut tree, see our tree map here. Thank you to everyone who came along and helped make it such a lovely morning. Together, we’re nurturing our trees, our green spaces and our community. See you next time!

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Join us for Forest Gardening Sunday Morning, 17 May 2026

12th May 2026

Forest Gardening in Hollingdean Community Orchard Sunday 19th April 2026

Meet at 10am at our colourful shed on Lynchet Close or in the Community Orchard Forest Garden

Join Growing Hollingdean volunteers in the Community Orchard, Hollingdean Park. Please wear suitable clothing and shoes. Tools will all be supplied. Children can join in with a responsible adult. Add to your calendar, click here.

What we have done Hollingdean Community Orchard Sunday 19th April 2026

Five adults and three children (including a babe in arms) enjoyed a relaxed session in the Forest Garden. We planted some currants and a gooseberry along the edible hedge – these were left over from the Growing Hollingdean AGM and plant swap on 18th. They filled what appeared to be gaps and near some splendid looking leeks!

We also planted a second rosemary in the herby bed and Jo-seph dug deep and planted a holly behind the water capture containers. I finally understood how to turn the water on and we watered in our new plants.

There’s always weeding to be done – this time we tackled the grass and bindweed along the edge of the herb bed, putting the grass to good use as a mulch around the fruit trees and the beds looked a lot better afterwards.

Kate says she learned (from one of the children) that you can eat the fruits of the Elaeagnus Silverberry – they have a very satisfying pip to spit out, once you’ve eaten around it!

It was a lovely session; we had a freshly squeezed lemon drink and a biscuit, sitting on the sturdy bench and table set. The sun shone and we spotted bees and butterflies dancing amongst the apple blossom.

We look forward to seeing you next month. Thank you to the Growing Hollingdean volunteers.

We look forward to seeing you at our next event.

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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.

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Volunteer Tree Guardians on Davey Drive in July 2024

19th Jul 2024

Numbers 20 &21. Pear Trees on the Growing Hollingdean Tree Map, July 2024 — *Numbers 020 & 021 Pear Trees on the Growing Hollingdean Tree Map, July 2024*

Polly, Leigh, Abbie and Sarahjane, some of our volunteer tree guardians, enjoyed deciding which trees to take the mulch to on the first, on Sunday 7th July 2024. Shovelling up wood chip from the pile near Davey Drive shed they barrowed it to the trees.

Number 032 Mirabelle Plum Tree on the Growing Hollingdean Tree Map

Tree Guardians on Davey Drive in July 2024, Mirabelle Plum Tree — Before mulching, Mirabelle Plum Tree 032

The first tree to be weeded and mulched was the Mirabelle Plum Tree (Prunus domestica subsp. syriaca), RHS says ‘A small, twiggy, deciduous tree generally with arching or drooping branches. It has white blossom in early spring followed in late summer or early autumn by plum fruits with golden or greenish-yellow flesh and black, blue, purple, red or yellow skin. Many cultivated varieties of plum have been developed from this species.‘

Tree Guardians on Davey Drive in July 2024, mulching the Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) — Before weeding the 031 Hawthorn

Number 031 Hawthorn Tree on the Growing Hollingdean Tree Map

This is a very wind swept 031 Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) which produces May blossom. The Woodland Trust says ‘Named after the month in which it blooms and a sign that spring is turning to summer. The pale green leaves of this hedgerow staple are often the first to appear in spring, with an explosion of pretty pale-pink blossom in May. It simply teems with wildlife from bugs to birds.’ See their video ‘Year in the life: Hawthorn’, its very relaxing.

Tree Guardians on Davey Drive in July 2024, mulching the Pear Tree 20 & 21 — 021 Tree, attaching the strapping to hold the cage in place

Numbers 020 & 021 Pear Trees on the Growing Hollingdean Tree Map

Its has been a year since these two pear (Pyrus communis) trees were last weeded. Green growth around the trunk competes with the trees for nutrition. The volunteers enjoyed a laugh and chat while they weeded, pruned and added mulch. Please help yourself to the fruit.

Next Tree Guardians 4th August 2024

Tree Guardians is the First Sunday of the every month, we meet outside Hollingdean Park West side entrance, Lynchet Close shed, Brighton, BN1 7EY. Wear appropiate clothing, bring a drink and equipment will be provided.

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

Keep up with Growing Hollingdean

For all the latest news about Growing Hollingdean, including free events, activities and volunteering opportunities, sign up to our mailing list here or use the sign-up box below.

And a huge thank you to all our wonderful Growing Hollingdean volunteers who helped make this possible!

Growing Hollingdean

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

Tag: Volunteer gardening