Join us for Tree Guardians on Sunday 7th December 2025

27th Nov 2025

Tree Guardians see on Brentwood Road 2 November 2025 — *Tree 085 Elderflower on Brentwood Road, staked and caged by volunteer Tree Guardians*

Tree guardian volunteers meet at 10am on Sunday 7th December 2025 at the Lynchet Close Shed. We will collect tools and gloves before venturing out into Hollingdean estate to garden around some fruit and nut trees.

We look forward to seeing you for pip tree pruning, rain or shine.

Tree Guardians seen on Brentwood Road 2 November 2025

Twelve volunteers laugh and giggled as they weeded, planted, staked and caged around the trees on Brentwood Road on 2nd November 2025. Giving the quince tree number 087 a hessian strap to help it grow straight again.

Spring bulbs planted by volunteers on Brentwood Road

Spring bulbs were planted at the base of the trees and the left overs bulbs were planted below the community noticeboard at the bottom of the hill. While we weeded the flowerbed we found two frogs hiding in the long grass. It was very exciting for our volunteers.

Bulbs planted by volunteers on Brentwood Road, November 2025 — Bulb planting

Thank you to a fellow passer by who offered to take any of our waste, but everything was chopped and used as a mulch so no garden waste was created.

Polly from Growing Hollingdean on BBC Radio Sussex

Did you hear our wonderful Polly on Radio Sussex on Sunday 2nd November 2025? Promoting our wonderful volunteers on the radio on the gardening programme with Pat Marsh. Well done Polly. Check out our tree map to find your nearest fruit trees.

Hollingdean Tree Map

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

Join Tree Guardian Volunteers on Sunday 2nd November 2025

29th Oct 2025

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 Guardian Volunteers seen Gardening behind the flats on Stephens Road, 7th September 2025

Tree Guardians seen on the Wildflower Verge in Hollingdean Park, 5th October 2025

Tree Guardians in Hollingdean Park Wildflower Verge, 5th October 2025

Tree Guardians took part in the Get Growing Harvest Festival by clearing the wildflower verge at the bottom of Hollingdean Park. Volunteers raked away the cuttings left by the mower and planted spring bulbs. All the cuttings were used as mulch around the nearby trees, helping to return nutrients to the soil. A big thank you to all the volunteers for their hard work!

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

Volunteer with the Tree Guardians on 7th September at 10am in Hollingdean

3rd Sep 2025

Tree Guardians seen out pruning in August 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 Guardians, first Sunday of the month, 10am to 12pm!

Tree Guardians pruning stone fruit trees in August 2025

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.

Hollingdean Tree Map

Leave your review on Google, thank you so much!

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

Get Growing in Hollingdean, Forest Garden Care Training Day, Sunday 13th July 2025

8th Jul 2025

Hollingdean Family Hub, Hollingdean Park and Community Orchard, 10.30am to 4pm

B&H Food Partnership in partnership with Cultivate have given us funding to organise a training day on how to care for your forest garden hosted by the extremely knowledgeable and charismatic lead gardener Stephan Gehrels. The event is completely free with a delicious light lunch and refreshments is also provided on the day. Please click this link Get Growing in Hollingdean – Forest Garden Care Training Day Tickets | Brighton & Hove Food Partnership for more info and to register. We currently have tickets for 15 adult places, children are welcome without tickets.

Join us for a hands-on day of learning essential maintenance skills including:

Seasonal pruning techniques for fruit trees and shrubs
Mulching and soil care to keep plants healthy
Natural pest management and plant health
Harvesting and preserving your forest garden bounty
Planning for year-round productivity

Whether you were with us from the design day or this is your first time getting involved, you’ll gain practical skills to help our community gardens flourish for years to come. Bring your own gardening gloves and any tools you have (we have some extras to share).

Hollingdean Community Orchard and Forest Garden entrance June 2025

Join the Tree Guardians on Sunday 6th July 2025. Training available, all welcome.

5th Jul 2025

What our Tree Guardians did on 1st June 2025, Hollingdean, Brighton volunteers

First Sunday of every month, 10am at the shed Brentwood Road and Lynchet Close, see more information here. Bring secateurs and a wheel barrow if you can. We look forward to seeing you there.

What our Tree Guardians did on Sunday 1st June 2025

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.

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

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!

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

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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Growing Hollingdean volunteers plant the forest garden at Hollingdean Park Community Orchard

17th Mar 2025

On a fun sunny Sunday in March 2025

Volunteers planted a new edible forest garden at Hollingdean Park Community Orchard

We are really lucky to have been supported by Brighton & Hove Food Partnership and Brighton Permaculture Trust and to have been funded by Cultivate EU- a programme to promote food growing in many cities across Europe. In February an edible hedgerow, including fruit trees was planted between the Family Hub and the playpark. This month Hollingdean Community Orchard is being planted with new layers of plants so that it becomes a Forest Garden.

Everyone is welcome to visit. Please take care of the new young plants. It is wonderful to see them grow and come back to enjoy their fruit later in the year. We can all sample a few and leave more for others, too, including wildlife. This year the new plants need to get their roots down and really bed in. As the garden becomes mature, so it will become more and more fruitful over the years.

Volunteers planted a new edible forest garden at Hollingdean Park Community Orchard, March 2025 — Stephan briefing the volunteers

What is a forest garden?

“Forest gardens are food-producing systems which seek to emulate natural woodland ecosystems as closely as possible. They consist of mainly perennial plants which are agriculturally productive or useful, growing as they would in the wild.” Says Permaculture Association This includes fruit and nut trees, climbers and vines, shrubs such as currant bushes, herbaceous perennials and herbs, ground cover plants and roots. Some plants maybe edible and some medicinal. They all have a place in the Forest Garden.

Thank you to Community Chef Anna who cooked us all a lovely lunch! And everyone who helped make it a really productive day

Thank you to Stephan at Brighton Permaculture Trust, Helen at Brighton & Hove Food Partnership, Hollingdean Family Hub and Growing Hollingdean volunteers for organising all of this.

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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

Tree Guardians next meet up is Sunday 6th October 2024, 10am at Lynchet Close shed – everyone welcome!

4th Oct 2024

Growing Hollingdean Walnut Tree 245 Horton Road-Tree Map September 2024

Tree Guardians last met at Horton Road in September 2024

On Sunday 1st September 2024, Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardian volunteers saved a young walnut tree number 245 from being overtaken by bind weed. It lives at the back of Horton Road flats where cardboard was laid round the base and mulch added on top, giving this tree a better chance and take advantage of moisture and nutrients.

Walnuts

Walnut trees can be pruned from mid June to late September, giving air and light to walnuts ripening between September and December. If you would like to see a full grown walnut tree check out the two large beauties near the shops on The Crestway, number 044 and 045. If you are lucky the local squirrel may have left some walnuts for you.

Growing Hollingdean Tree Map

See our tree map for your nearest fruit or nut tree click here. Join us for a walk round, all abilities welcome.

Tree Guardian Volunteers Wanted

Everyone welcome to join us for two hours of light shovelling, weeding, walking, pruning or just for a chat. Get out and feel good this Autumn in your local area, we are so lucky to have green spaces around us. See what Thrive say here…. “Spending time in nature can be good for our health and wellbeing. You don’t need a garden of your own to benefit. A simple planter or time in a park can still work wonders.”

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Tree Guardians were on Davey Drive this summer

30th Aug 2024

Our next Tree Guardian meet up is this weekend, Sunday 1st September, 10-12pm, come and join us!

Tree Guardians on Davey Drive this Summer, On Sunday 4th August 2024 volunteers helped tree no. 23 & 15 — Number 23 Rowen Tree

On Sunday 4th August 2024 volunteers helped a Rowan and a Cherry Plum tree

Tree Guardian volunteers met on Davey Drive on Sunday morning 4th August, with the weather warming up our number 023 Rowen Tree needed support. This small tree is at the end of a line of trees that form a native hedge on one side of the triangle green on Davey Drive at the bottom of Horton Road. Leigh, Shelia, Rich and Sarahjane took turns to thump the two chestnut stakes into the ground and a hessian band was added to connect them. The grass was trimmed, cardboard laid and woodchip placed on top. We hope this tree with thrive now.

As the day heated up the volunteers decided to help one other tree. Number 015, a Cherry Plum tree is situated on the other side of the road. Gardening on a slope can be tricky, so the volunteers took their time. And enjoyed a good chat as well. Visited by a grasshopper and they remembered a time when there was lots of grasshoppers in the long grass! See our Tree map here

Its time for harvesting our local fruit trees

Late August and September is a great time for harvesting, look out for blackberries, apples, cherry plums, pears and plums. Head down to your local community garden for vegetables and other soft fruits.

We look forward to seeing you at the next Tree Guardians on 1st September 2024, at the Lynchet Close shed at 10am. Everyone welcome, all abilities and ages, bring a smile and enthusiasm.

We look forward to seeing you at our next event.

Hollingdean 2024 Summer Street Fair

12th Aug 2024

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 you and please share.

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!

The wildflower patch at Hollingdean Park is looking beautiful

26th Jul 2024

In July 2024 on Lynchet Close

You are never to young to volunteer! The Apple Pickers pre-school Forest School group sowed wildflower seed in this new bed at Hollingdean Park when the new playground was installed (see in a previous post). All their efforts mean there are beautiful flowers to enjoy now and a host of insect life happily buzzing and pollinating. And later this summer, when the blossoms set seed, next year’s wildflowers will be sown. There will be even more to see next year. All the fruit trees, fruit bushes and plants across Hollingdean will have a better chance of producing good crops next season.

Apple Pickers DIY Forest School

Thank you to the Apple Pickers!

We look forward to meeting you.

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!

Two Trees Community Garden at Tavistock Down is for everyone, June 2024

7th Jul 2024

*Two Tree Community Garden, Tavistock Down, Hollingdean is for everyone, June 2024*

We are very lucky to have green spaces in Hollingdean

Would you like to learn about gardening and growing your own? Come and help Mel with weeding, planting and harvesting at Two Trees Community Garden, Tavistock Down, or just visit to enjoy the space and the crops. Mel has encouraged locals to use the green space outside their homes since 2014 when the garden began. Now it has some beautiful mature fruit trees, currant bushes and perennial vegetables such as globe artichokes. Would you like to share in the harvest at Two Trees? It is there for everyone, for free, and you can visit anytime.

Mel says “Had much needed help today from a friendly neighbour filling up the water butt’s and a lovely visit from Leigh. Everyone is welcome to visit the garden whenever they want lots of mint needs harvesting“. How to make mint tea for free.

There is abundance of red currants ready for picking during the summer. Please go down and pick for yourself, your neighbour or your family a bowl full of delicious sunshine. You can even make red currant ice cream.

The benefits of green spaces for our mental health

Mel will be at Two Trees Community Garden on Tavistock Down on Mondays, 3 to 5pm

The community garden is free for anyone to use. Whether it is for planting, weeding, sitting, meeting friends, making friends or just watching the wild life in our beautiful green spaces. Everyone is welcome.

How to find Two Trees Community Garden @TavistockDown

The gate entrance is accessible via south end of Tavistock Down, behind the play park, next to the turning to Thompson Road or use what3words, panel.fallen.trash.

Two Trees Community Garden, Tavistock Road, Hollingdean Brighton — *Two Trees Community Garden, Tavistock Down, Hollingdean Brighton, since 2014*

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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!

In Summer 2024 Brighton & Hove City Council are treating pavements and gutters with Glyphosate

2nd Jun 2024

Brighton & Hove City Council plan to use glyphosate on our pavements and gutters. On May 2024 volunteers where out street weeding to prevent glyphosate being used!

Hollingdean neighbours are taking action to prevent glyphosate coming to their streets!

Did you know Brighton & Hove Council are now treating green growth on pavements and gutters with glyphosate, which is a toxic herbicide/pesticide harmful to human health as well as animals, birds and insects? There is a very high risk that pollinating insects and small mammals and birds that feed on them will be drastically affected, which affects our food supply. It also leaches into our chalk aquifers and water supply. Read about the dangers here.

The first of three treatments will be applied in Hollingdean shortly. Not every area is being treated. You can see streets that will be affected on this map here

If you want to know more about how this situation has come about, Pesticide Action Network (PAN) explains here.

Don’t want Glyphosate? There is an alternative…

Councillors Time Rowkin and Theresa Fowler (Environment Committee) have told us that all green growth on pavements and in gutters in Hollingdean will be treated, except small wildflowers next to garden walls which are actually flowering.

So, although many of us love our wildflowers, people in Hollingdean and across the city are getting together to remove pavement plants before gylphosate is used. There are plenty of alternative ways of doing this, including manual weeding and using non-toxic household items such as vinegar, salt and hot water.

In Hollingdean neighbours in Hertford Road, Hollingdean Terrace, Barnet Road and Hollingbury Rise are already taking their own action. They are turning the problem around, getting to know their neighbours, enjoying tea and cake and chatting as well as weeding. The council’s Community Clean Up Team is helping as well by supplying equipment and taking the debris away.

Polly says “The Community Clean Up Team delivered all the tools and bin bags to us this afternoon. Residents in Hollingbury Rise cleared 2/3rds of the street & filled 14 bags in 1.5 hours and the Clean Up team have already collected everything.“

Would you like to get organized and protect yourselves, your loved ones and nature? Contact the Community Clean Up Team and sign up for equipment and support here communitycleanup@brighton-hove.gov.uk

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.

Sunday 7th April 2024, 12-2 pm, building the dead hedge, digging a pond-dipping area & footpath

6th Apr 2024

Growing Hollingdean Stage three of the pond dig at Hollingean Park Orchard with Froglife, March 2024

Come and join us!

Building a dead hedge is fun and very easy. A dead hedge makes fantastic shelter, homes, food, nesting sites for a variety of wildlife from birds and mammals to insects, amphibians and reptiles. And it will help keep the pond safe for young children. The bark ‘beach’ will be a place for children to experience ‘pond-dipping’ activities in future, under the guidance of our Growing Hollingdean volunteers.

Stage two and three build of the Hollingdean Forest Garden Pond

Stage two – 20th March 2024, excavation and digging

Growing Hollingdean Stage two of the pond dig at Hollingean Park Orchard with Froglife, March 2024 — Lizard seen at Hollingdean Park Orchard

Stage two of the pond dig was a clear crisp day, perfect for more digging. Growing Hollingdean volunteers and Will our Froglife expert at Hollingdean Park Orchard.

Continued on 21st March 2024

Level pond edges, line pond and dead-hedge. — Dead hedge building March 2024

Thursday was grey foggy March day and only one way to keep warm is to dig! Lots of fun was had by the volunteers.

Stage three – 3rd April 2024, level the pond edges, line the pond

Level the pond edges and add liner and add fence. Well done to all the volunteers.

PLUS 6th May 2024, Monday Bank Holiday, planting the pond and celebrating our fantastic achievements, 10am to 2pm

Join Growing Hollingdean volunteers on the May Bank Holiday with Froglife for pond planting with aquatic plants and bank planting. Please wear appropriate clothing and bring a drink. It is time to get together and celebrate as well.

Please share with friends and family and we look forward to seeing your there.

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Tree Guardian volunteers replace a fruit tree on The Crestway

3rd Feb 2024

Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardian volunteers replace fruit trees on The Crestway and at 'Two Tree Community Garden' in January 2024 — *060 Apple Tree replace dead tree, protection added*

New apple tree at ‘Two Tree Community Garden’, January 2024

Some of our fruit trees have died from disease or damage. We have been able to replace some of these. At Two Trees Community Gardens, Mel spotted a very young tree that had snapped and died. Our Tree Guardians replaced it with a young apple tree and learnt how to stake and tie a tree.

Sadly an 8-10 year old plum tree died from Fireblight disease, see it explained here. Local residents on the corner of ‘The Linkway’ and ‘The Crestway’ tried to help it survive by watering it but drought was not the problem this time.

Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardian volunteers replace a fruit trees on The Crestway and at 'Two Tree Community Garden' in January 2024

037 Apple Tree replaces dead tree

However, if you have a young fruit tree (up to 3 years old) near you, please water it in dry weather. Laying a mulch around the roots as wide as the branches also helps and keeps grass at bay. This means the tree has less competition, more nutrients and moisture is not lost through evaporation. It all makes a big difference and the tree will thank you for it!

Next Tree Guardians session is on 4th February 2024

Meet Hilary outside Sure Start notice board on Brentwood Road at 10am or meet us up at Hollingdean Park Orchard for a couple of hours of mulching. Remember to bring yourself a drink. We look forward to meeting you.

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

Tree Guardian volunteers get together for additional tree planting Sundays

18th Jan 2024

Tree Guardians get together to plant on additional volunteer gardening days. January 2024

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.

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 Tree Guardians have been busy in December, 2023

6th Jan 2024

Mulching and pruning our local fruit and nut trees

Jo-seph gathered volunteers on most weekends in December to mulch, prune and garden around our local fruit and nut trees. Wood chip was spread to mulch the trees by Stevens Road flats. Grey days are the perfect reason to get out into the fresh air for a bit of exercise and meet up with lovely locals. We all feel good in just a couple of hours of volunteer gardening. Come and join in!

The Tree Guardian next meet up is Sunday 7th January 2024, we look forward to seeing you.

Why do we prune fruit trees?

We prune fruit and nut trees “To cut out disease, damage and deadwood: pruning to remove these three Ds is considered a way to promote a healthy, productive tree.” Says Wade Muggleton at Permaculture Magazine see the website for the full and interesting article.

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 Volunteers gardening at Hollingdean Community Centre

20th Dec 2023

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.

Everyone enjoyed Autumn Storytelling Event in Hollingdean Community Orchard September 2023

9th Nov 2023

Everyone enjoyed Autumn Storytelling Event in September 2023

Growing Hollingdean volunteer Sheila told us stories in the sunshine

The 23rd of September turned out be a sunny day in the community orchard and the perfect setting for an afternoon of autumnal storytelling.

We made a circle of picnic blankets and Sheila wove a mix of stories from around the world with help from some young friends, and those gathered joined in to make a beautiful and unique event.

There were snacks and drinks, and a wide range of ages coming together under the bunting to celebrate the turning of the year.

If you would like to be informed about the next Free event, please subscribe here.

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Help us extend the flowerbed on Horton Road, with the help of Growing Hollingdean volunteer gardeners

Help us extend the flowerbed on Horton Road in Hollingdean

7th Nov 2023

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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Froglife and Growing Hollingdean are organizing a FREE event

17th Oct 2023

Tuesday 24th October 2023 10am to 3pm in Hollingdean Park by the Orchard

Froglife and Growing Hollingdean are organizing a FREE event at Hollingdean Park, Lyncet Close on 24th October 2023 during half term. Froglife have funding to create wildlife areas with bog gardens and ponds in Hollingdean. The event will include fun activities, FREE mini pond kits and advice on creating habitats like a Hibernacula. We also want to hear your ideas about these exciting projects. Come and join in on the fun activities for all ages.

Frogs, toads, newts and more…

How can we attract more wildlife to our green spaces?

You can attract more wildlife to your green space, join us and pick up a FREE mini pond kit and a ‘Just Add Water’ pond guide to take home! Also:

Tell us about the wildlife you have seen in Hollingdean.
Where you think new ponds and other wildlife friendly habitats could be made.
Find out how to make a mini pond or bog garden.
Learn how to make wildlife friendly habitat like a Hibernacula.

Free entry, everyone of all ages are welcome. We look forward to meeting you.

For more information see the Froglife website here.

Froglife and Growing Hollingdean are organizing a FREE event, 24 October 2023 at Hollingbury Park 10-3pm.

Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardians learnt how help our fruit trees in September 2023

Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardians learnt how to help our fruit trees in September

28th Sep 2023

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 Hollingdean here 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!

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

3rd Monday of the month join Mel at Two Trees Community Garden, Tavistock Down

16th Sep 2023

Join Mel at Two Trees Community Garden the 3rd Monday of the month, 18 September 2023, at Tavistock Down Community Garden

18 September 2023, 3-5pm

Mel has been busy adding compost and top dressing the largest of the three flower beds in the community garden. She plans to move plants to here from another part of the garden. On Monday 18 September, Mel and her volunteers will be doing some light weeding and mulching the fruit bushes and would appreciate your help or just join us for a good old natter!

Every 3rd Monday of the month between 3-5pm at the Tavistock Down Community Garden. There are a variety of small gardening jobs requiring your help. Mel will be there to advise you. All skill levels welcome, from beginners to expert. We recommend you bring gloves, a drink and wear sensible shoes, all other tools will be provided.

Please pop over and lend a hand or just for a chat. We look forward to meeting you! Contact Mel on 07543 201 670 or tdcommunitygarden@gmail.com to let her know you will be attending and meet the locals.

Growing Hollingdean is looking for a Volunteer Litter Picker Session Leader

28th Jul 2023

The role would include organising a 2-hour litter-picking session in Hollingdean once a month. You need to be available to do so on a weekend. This role should take around 4-5 hours a month, to include organising the session and the litter picker event.

Join our team!

Preferably, you will be first aid trained; if not, we can arrange training for you. We have a meeting once a month, and now and then you need to come. If you are interested, please send a cover letter to our email, info@growinghollingdean.org.uk

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!

Volunteer Gardeners Wanted to Help Grow Fruit & Veg in Hollingdean

16th Jul 2023

*Two Trees Community Garden, Tavistock Down 3rd Monday of the month between 3-5pm*

Monday 17 July 2023, 3-5pm at Two Trees Community Garden, Tavistock Down

Join Mel in the garden to set up the new vegetable beds in Two Trees Community Garden on Tavistock Down, see map here. She will be adding compost to the new beds, weeding under the fruit bushes and picking currants. Bring a containers to take home your pickings, also a drink and a smile.

Volunteers of all abilities, ages and backgrounds are welcome to help maintain the garden every 3rd Monday of the month between 3-5pm

Contact Mel on 07543201670 or tdcommunitygarden@gmail.com to let her know you will be joining her or just turn up.

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!

Successful Growing Hollingdean Plant Stall & Activities at the Lucky Dip 2023

13th Jul 2023

Growing Hollingdean Plant Stall

It was wonderful to see the return of the Hollingdean Lucky Dip, this time around at St. Richards Church. Growing Hollingdean volunteers had a good showing, with a plant stall, and three different activities.

Free Growing Food in Small Spaces

‘There was also a chance to get started with growing your own with Growing Food in Small Spaces, by planting up a pot of herbs, salads or vegetables to take home to a windowsill, balcony, or sunny corner. A total of 16 pots where planted up and taken home for free on the day.

Growing Food in Small Spaces activity with Growing Hollingdean volunteers at the Lucky Dip 2023

Decorating Earwig Bell Houses

First up was making and decorating Earwig Bell Houses to encourage aphid munching creatures and pollinators to move in and protect our fruit trees.

Earwig Bell House making at Growing Hollingdean Free Activities at the Lucky Dip 2023

Free Mini Water Garden making

Finally, Growing Hollingdean volunteers hosted a water garden on behalf of the Lucky Dip team to make a mini pond-in-a-pot with free water plants and containers.

Mini water garden making at Growing Hollingdean Free Activities at the Lucky Dip 2023

With all the activities it was a lovely, relaxed day with people dropping in and out and getting involved! Thanks to the Lucky Dip crew and other stall holders for bringing the Lucky Dip back to Hollingdean once again. It’s always a lovely community to be part of. Look forward to seeing you at our next event. For the Lucky Dip Facebook page click here.

Growing Food in Small Spaces Free Events in Hollingdean, June 2023

10th Jul 2023

*Polly our Growing Hollingdean volunteer Growing Food in Small Spaces Free Event at Hollingdean Community Centre was in June 2023*

It was a wonderful opportunity to meet with our wider community of all ages from three years to teenagers, families and retired people. 19 beautiful pots of herbs and salad were planted up and taken home for free at Hollingdean Community Centre in June. Claire and Polly our Growing Hollingdean volunteer for Grow Food in Small Spaces helped locals choose their plants. At our Hollingdean Park event, Joseph another Growing Hollingdean volunteer helped plant up 15 tasty pots.

Growing Food in Small Spaces Free Event at Hollingdean Community Centre was in June 2023

A big thank you to Amos from RAGS

A big thank you to Amos from RAGS (Roedale Allotments and Gardens Society) for donating the these small plants he grew rainbow chard, Pak choi, lettuce, chives, spring onions, basil, coriander and thyme. Polly grew tomato, spinach and Pak choi plants.

Grow Food in Small Spaces where funded by our local Healthy Neighbourhood Fund. Our new stickers and flyers about our work where funded through a Community Engagement Fund from the council.

To hear about all future events, sign up to our newsletter. We look forward to meeting you.

Horton Road Community Flower Bed June 2023 Update

28th Jun 2023

*Horton Road Community Flower Bed Update June 2023*

Our Growing Hollingdean volunteers got together for some local gardening

A couple of our Growing Hollingdean volunteers got together today to do a few hours of gardening on the Horton Road flower bed. They also added recycled cement roofing tiles to support the soil for the plants and mulch. They also added in a few more plants for the empty patches. And of course tea, biscuits and chat was involved. Here is what our volunteer says.

“Today we dug in some roof tiles, to stop wood our chip from falling onto the entrance pathway and to give our new flower bed some structure. It looks really good. I would not have been able to do any of this, without the support and enthusiasm of other fellow Growing Hollingdean volunteers. Being part of this great group gives me a great sense of community. We help each other out, we learn, we watch things grow, not to mention the benefit for the local environment, the joy from the neighbours and passers by.“
Leigh, Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardian

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 ‘Growing Food in Small Spaces’ stall will be at the ‘Lucky Dip 23’ on 1st July 2023, 10am to 4pm

21st Jun 2023

*Growing your own food in small spaces with Growing Hollingdean volunteers*

Lucky Dip 23 will be at St Richards Church on 9 Beal Crescent, Hollingdean

Ever wanted to grow your own salad and herbs, but don’t have the room?

Growing Hollingdean will have a ‘Grow Food in Small Spaces’ stall at the ‘Lucky Dip 23’ this year. Join us and plant up your FREE window pot with lovely fresh salads and herbs. We have the seedlings, the compost and the containers. Just bring yourself! No experience needed, all welcome, turn up and have some fun at St Richards.

There will also be stalls, plants, kids activities, open mike, music, dancing, crafts, make your own pond, tombola, a café and of course a lucky dip. Free entry!

Growing Hollingdean volunteers will be there to help you with ‘Grow your Own in Small Spaces’. We look forward to seeing you.

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!

First Sunday in May, our Tree Guardians were on Horton Road, Hollingdean

7th Jun 2023

*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!

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 volunteer Tree Guardians May 2023

Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardians May 2023

7th May 2023

Join our small group of volunteers in Hollingdean

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.

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).

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 at the AGM, April 2023

15th Apr 2023

Everyone had a fun day, lots of bags of plants and big smiling faces

*Growing Hollingdean AGM volunteers April 2023*

Thank you to Hollingdean Community Centre for having us and to our Growing Hollingdean volunteers. Our plant and seed swap (or donation) tables where very busy and successful. Polly our Growing Hollingdean volunteer for Grow Food in Small Spaces helped locals plant up 20 pots of herbs and salad and taken home for free. Lots of smiling faces all round.

Growing Hollingdean AGM meeting and slide show April 2023

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 AGM & Plant Swap

8th Apr 2023

On 22 April 2023 at Hollingdean Community Centre

'Growing Food in Small Spaces' with be at Hollingdean Community Centre

Growing Hollingdean has a Annual General Meeting (AGM) in spring each year and everyone is welcome to join us. Will will have:

Plant and seed swap or make a donation
Free! Plant a salad pot
Book sale
Raffle
Brighton Permaculture Trust – Apple Juice for sale
AGM meeting and slide show
Tea, coffee, drinks, homemade cakes and snacks

Come alone to chat to fellow local gardeners and find out what Growing Hollingdean volunteers have been up to this past year and what we plan to do.

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 Tree Guardian Volunteers, at Two Tree Community Garden, March 2023

5th Mar 2023

Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardian Volunteers in March 2023 — *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!

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

Food & Wildlife Community Garden at St Richards Church Hollingdean

4th Feb 2023

St Richards Church Hollingdean Community Garden

On Beale Crescent, February 2023

A huge THANK YOU to the many locals who turned up to help create the two ‘No Dig’ veg and flower beds. General gardening, pruning, planting, chatter and fun was had by all for a few hours. St Richards Church is on Beale Crescent and our Growing Hollingdean volunteers also turned up to help on Saturday morning.

The volunteers also cleared the weeds and mulched around the existing fruit trees. This is phase one in the creation of a Food & Wildlife Community Garden. See our Facebook page for more photos.

Join us next time

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 volunteers get together to litter pick in December 2022

20th Dec 2022

Tree Guardians litter pick together December 2022

Are you fed up with seeing rubbish in your area?

Join us to help keep our local green spaces tidy and beautiful.

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

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!

Lynchet Close Community Garden update, October 2022

22nd Oct 2022

Growing Hollingdean Lynchet Close Community Garden update in October 2022 — *Growing Hollingdean Lynchet Close Community Garden update, October 2022*

The 3 flower beds are located at the end of Lynchet Close in the play area, Hollingdean, for everyone to enjoy.

Growing Hollingdean Lynchet Close Community Garden update, October 2022

Drought tolerant and low maintenance plants for everyone to enjoy

Lynchet Close Community Garden was created this spring and still going strong after the drought. It was designed with perennial plants making it low maintenance. It’s only has 3-4 gardening days a year. It also includes a sensory bed with many plants giving lots of interest for your senses.

We would love to add more plants in the future.

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 Tree Guardians August 2022

25th Aug 2022

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.

In these session you will learn about how to care for fruit trees like how to prune, mulching, water and looking for damage/ disease.

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

Lynchet Close Community Garden, 3 Beds Build, June 2022

25th Jun 2022

Growing Hollingdean volunteers build 3 sensory flower beds in Lynchet Close

Volunteers build a place for clam and nature

Here in the first picture you can see the start of a sensory beds there’s couple of resident on the road with autistic and ADHD so we wanted to create a place where they can be calm with the different touch’s and smells. Like a selection on mint that include strawberry mint, chocolate mint, ginger mint, lemon mint and you classic mint. There’s cotton sage your classic sage with some grass for sight and touch.

The 3 beds are made form recycled plastic planks that are sage to use for food growing these where picked as they won’t much more expensive than wood choice it will last a longer time than wood and dose not need continuously be painted also this site gets strimmed and that would damage the wood where as the plastic states it’s strimmer proof.

The first raised bed is planted with autumn raspberry, chives and has nasturtium seeds planted these plants are companion planting.

The second bed is plated with perennial fruits like strawberries, currents, thyme, rhubarb and sorel.

The third bed is currently planted with annual vegs like tomato, lettuce and chard as the Perennial cabbage plants haven’t arrived yet.

The final product of Lynchet Close community garden

This community garden has been designed for perennial plants and drought tolerant plants to keep it low maintenance.

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 Your Own in small spaces in Hollingdean

8th Jun 2022

Growing your Own in small spaces event at Hollingdean Community Centre, June 2022

Growing your Own in small spaces poster June 2022

Hollingdean Community Centre, Thompson Road, Thursday 9th & 16th June 2022

Join us to plant up a window box, pot or hanging basket with lovely fresh salads and herbs. We have free seedlings, compost and containers.

Just bring yourself! No experience needed, all welcome, just turn up.

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!

Tree Guardians plant a new fruit tree in December 2021

Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardians plant a new fruit tree, December 2021

5th Dec 2021

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)

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 Tree Guardians planting new trees in March 2021

Growing Hollingdean Tree Guardians have been out in the community

7th Mar 2021

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

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

Tree Guardians seen on Brentwood Road 2 November 2025

Spring bulbs planted by volunteers on Brentwood Road

Polly from Growing Hollingdean on BBC Radio Sussex

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

Tree Guardian Volunteers seen Gardening behind the flats on Stephens Road, 7th September 2025

Tree Guardians seen on the Wildflower Verge in Hollingdean Park, 5th October 2025

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

Tree Guardians, first Sunday of the month, 10am to 12pm!

Tree Guardians pruning stone fruit trees in August 2025

Learn to prune on YouTube

How to weed around a fruit tree video

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

Hollingdean Family Hub, Hollingdean Park and Community Orchard, 10.30am to 4pm

Join us for a hands-on day of learning essential maintenance skills including:

What our Tree Guardians did on Sunday 1st June 2025

Tree Guardians litter pick in Hollingdean

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

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

On a fun sunny Sunday in March 2025

What is a forest garden?

Thank you to Community Chef Anna who cooked us all a lovely lunch! And everyone who helped make it a really productive day

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

Tree Guardians last met at Horton Road in September 2024

Growing Hollingdean Tree Map

Tree Guardian Volunteers Wanted

Our next Tree Guardian meet up is this weekend, Sunday 1st September, 10-12pm, come and join us!

On Sunday 4th August 2024 volunteers helped a Rowan and a Cherry Plum tree

Its time for harvesting our local fruit trees

Sunday 18th August 2024, 10am to 1pm – join in the car less boot sale!

Growing Hollingdean and Froglife at Hollingdean Community Orchard

In July 2024 on Lynchet Close

We are very lucky to have green spaces in Hollingdean

Mel will be at Two Trees Community Garden on Tavistock Down on Mondays, 3 to 5pm

How to find Two Trees Community Garden @TavistockDown

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

Hollingdean neighbours are taking action to prevent glyphosate coming to their streets!

Don’t want Glyphosate? There is an alternative…

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

Come and join us!

Stage two and three build of the Hollingdean Forest Garden Pond

Stage two – 20th March 2024, excavation and digging

Continued on 21st March 2024

Stage three – 3rd April 2024, level the pond edges, line the pond

PLUS 6th May 2024, Monday Bank Holiday, planting the pond and celebrating our fantastic achievements, 10am to 2pm

New apple tree at ‘Two Tree Community Garden’, January 2024

037 Apple Tree replaces dead tree

Next Tree Guardians session is on 4th February 2024

Can’t make our volunteering day on the first Sunday of the month?

Mulching and pruning our local fruit and nut trees

Why do we prune fruit trees?

Gardening and the Real Junk Food lunch in December, 2023

Growing Hollingdean volunteer Sheila told us stories in the sunshine

On Sunday 12th November 2023, 10.30 to 12.30 at Flats 119-129

Horton Road’s new flowerbed has been really successful this year!

Tuesday 24th October 2023 10am to 3pm in Hollingdean Park by the Orchard

Frogs, toads, newts and more…

How can we attract more wildlife to our green spaces?

Thank you to all the September volunteers

18 September 2023, 3-5pm

Join our team!

Monday 17 July 2023, 3-5pm at Two Trees Community Garden, Tavistock Down

Growing Hollingdean Plant Stall

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