The secret to winter tree ID
Without their cloaks of distinctive leaves, you could be forgiven for thinking that deciduous trees can all sort of look…
To help our Tree Wardens plant, protect and care for their local trees, we have a range of freely available resources and guidance created in collaboration wtih our Science and Research team and various partner organisations. THere are also plenty of ways to stay up-to-date with the latest Tree Warden news.
- Tree identification resources. Our list of helpful resources to support you with tree identification.
- Tree Warden leaflet
- Tree Health Update for Tree Wardens from Director of Trees, Science and Research, Jon Stokes
- Tree planting guide. Our simple guide to planning and planting the right tree in the right place.
- Presentations from tree experts. A range of speakers have presented at Tree Warden Forums and the Coordinator Workshop on topics ranging from planting trees from seed, to the historical-cultural value of trees, to how hedgerows can help us tackle the climate crisis.
Please note that the Tree Warden handbook is no longer available. Instead, we now have a set of new Tree Warden Learning Guides, created exclusively for member networks of The Tree Council’s Tree Warden Scheme. Tree Warden Coordinators are able to access these directly via the Coordinator Space on our website. If you are a Tree Warden volunteer, please get in touch with your Network Coordinator for a copy of the Learning Guides.
Branching Out is our regular newsletter created especially for volunteer Tree Wardens. Browse a selection from our archives below and, if you’re a Tree Warden who wants to stay in know, sign up here to get all the latest news every month.
- Why Trees are Good for You: A leaflet created by Epping Tree Wardens on the health and wellbeing benefits of trees.
- Hello Trees Schools Resources: Tree Warden Kate Bretherton runs Hello Trees, a source of fantastic lessons plans, classroom packs and worksheets to help educators teach the wonder of trees to their students.
- Tree Warden and experienced orchards creator Wade Muggleton has produced a series of fantastic resources including a document on Planning and Planting an Orchard. For more of his resources, visit this page.
Many local Tree Warden Networks produce fantastic newsletters packed with local news, policy updates and advice. If you’d be happy to share your newsletter with other networks, please contact our comms team.
Latest Tree Warden news
News, blogs and updates from Tree Wardens and Tree Warden Coordinators across the UK.
Leicester City Tree Wardens branching out to support local schools
Leicester City Council’s volunteer Tree Wardens, Coordinated by Penny Brown, Volunteer Co-ordinator in the Parks Department, met for the very…
How can Tree Wardens support their local schools in being a Force For Nature?
The Tree Council has a brilliant National Schools Programme which aims to unlock the power of trees for all young…
Tree Wardens supported by Postcode Local Trust
Postcode Local Trust is a grant-giving charity funded entirely by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. In 2020, we received £20,000 from the Trust to develop and launch new training materials for our Tree Warden volunteers across the country. This crucial information will give all volunteers baseline knowledge on important tree matters and give them confidence, and to allow others to have confidence in them, as they take action in their communities.
What Tree Wardens are up to
To share an update on what your network have been doing, please get in touch!
Promoting the health benefits of trees
Did you know that spending time among trees has been linked to boosting your immune system? Epping Forest Tree Wardens developed a leaflet to raise awareness of the health and wellbeing benefits of trees, and circulated it to GP surgeries in their local area to raise awareness.
Bringing a community woodland back to life
Tree Wardens in Eastleigh, Hampshire, have rejuvenated an overgrown and underused copse (a small area of woodland), bringing the space back into use by the community. Last year in National Tree Week, the Tree Wardens planted a new fruiting hedgerow on the border of the woodland with the help of local nursery school children. Dick Walters, one of the Tree Wardens in Eastleigh was interviewed by Sky News about why working with children as Tree Wardens was so important.
“It’s not taught in schools now, a lot of children at ten or eleven don’t know where an apple came from; haven’t seen an oak tree and don’t udnerstand the process of nature and what nature does. They’re our answer for the future.”
Planting precious street trees
Street trees make our streets greener and more pleasant. They absorb air pollution and keep us cool in the summer. But they take careful planning, to put the right tree species in the right place. They can be costly to plant, too, as the area may need to be surveyed for pipes and other infrastructure, and a pit may need to be dug in concrete or tarmac.
Surrey Tree Wardens work with their local authority to increase the number of street trees in Surrey’s urban areas. They also care for the trees after planting to ensure they can thrive for years to come.
