Tree Friends are volunteers who help the council's tree team maintain a healthy tree stock across the borough through a number of small works which add great value to the street scene:
- removal of basal growth (small shoots at the base of trees which can obstruct the footway),
- watering young trees as they establish,
- checking and adjusting tree ties where necessary,
- inspecting trees and reporting on issues including pests and diseases,
- identifying locations for new trees to enhance the tree stock and street scene.
If you would like to support our work and become a Tree Friend, you can complete our registration form. We are able to provide training and support to individuals or groups.
Watering of new trees
The Council’s contractor water all newly planted trees in the summer months in the year after they have been planted, with 50 litres (11 gallons) of water each week.
Tree Friends and residents are encouraged to help with this in the warmer months by watering our trees, including with waste water, with washing, bathing, with rainwater being ideal. You can find out more by visiting our Treemendous page.
Request a new public tree to be planted
In the 2022 planting season, over 230 of the new trees planted in the borough were sourced directly from resident requests. If you are aware of an empty tree pit somewhere in the borough, or if you would like to request a tree to be planted outside your property, report a tree problem.
Further information
You may like to find out more about our work with other volunteer groups like Street Friends who help us by removing litter and reporting problems such as graffiti in their street, Friends of Parks who care for their local parks and green spaces, and Snow Friends who help clear snow and ice during the winter.