I’m interested in planting trees. How do I get involved?

Tree planting season is November - March. We advertise our tree planting events on Eventbrite so follow us to get notified as soon as event listings go live!

Do I need to book in for a volunteering session at the Tree Nursery?

Nope! Our sessions are open to all and you can just turn up on the day. That’s every Wednesday, Friday and the last Saturday of the month. Volunteer sessions start at 10am. If you are visiting the Tree Nursery for the first time we invite you to join us on a Wednesday morning or on the last Saturday of the month at 10.30. This is the time when we do a tour of the Tree Nursery and we can give you an introduction to the work of the Tree Musketeers. It's very informal but it helps you to find your way around, meet people, and get a sense of what we're doing.

What can I expect at a Tree Nursery volunteering session?

Tasks vary according to season, weather and priorities but can include watering, weeding, repotting, turning compost, moving things around, maintaining tools, cleaning the office etc. If you aren’t able to do certain tasks or need regular breaks, just let the lead volunteer know and they will accommodate your needs. Volunteering sessions are relaxed and there are plenty of opportunities for a cup of tea or just enjoy your surroundings.

What facilities are at the Tree Nursery?

Our facilities are fairly basic. There is electricity so we have hot water for drinks, we have an unheated polytunnel where we socialise, and we have a lovingly-built composting toilet. There is a small library in our old portacabin that we use as an office.  Across the car park at the Hackney Marshes Centre there are accessible flush toilets and a cafe serving hot snacks.

How wheelchair accessible is the Tree Nursery?

All abilities are welcome and we try to shape jobs to suit wheelchair users and other volunteers with limited mobility. We currently have one volunteer who uses an all-terrain powerchair. Most of the ground is rough grass or soft wood-chip. There is a small central tarmac area, and concrete floors to the polytunnels where we socialise and do indoor growing. Our composting toilet has steps because it needs to be high above containers: there are accessible toilets nearby in the Hackney Marshes Centre.

Our planting activities are held in Hackney's parks and open spaces.

Do I need any tree experience?

No, you don't need any experience to join in our activities.  We supervise all sessions at the Tree Nursery and in parks until volunteers feel confident to work on their own. Most of us started without any tree knowledge or experience.

What should I wear?

You need to be comfortable and dress for the weather.  Waterproofs are a good idea if rain is forecast.  In winter, and if it has been wet, you may want to wear boots/ stout shoes and we recommend closed-toe footwear if you're getting involved in activities.  And definitely wear clothes that you don't mind getting a bit grubby. Also, some people like to bring their own gardening gloves but we have plenty.

Can I bring my children to work sessions at the Tree Nursery?

Sorry, but our workdays at the Tree Nursery are not suitable for children. We do not have volunteers trained to supervise children, and parents cannot be aware of all of the risks on any given day. We use sharp tools, heavy equipment, we have beehives on site, there is a deep pond, there are nettles and thorns, and the foxes and squirrels dig holes in the ground that might not be noticed by a child running around. We really want to see children being part of what we do but only when we know we have a safe environment for them to enjoy and learn. Look out for tree planting sessions, Open Day events, and special children's activities. Or encourage your school to work with us.

Can I work with the Tree Musketeers in my park instead of going to the Tree Nursery?

Yes.  We have tree groups that meet throughout the year in Hackney parks although the busiest time is during the spring and summer when trees need watering. The groups check for any damage or disease, and they undertake guard maintenance, weeding, mulching and pruning.  We run these groups via WhatsApp groups so you can join up and drop in on a session whenever convenient . You can find a group to join via the Volunteering Page - just scroll down to “Tree Care Groups”.

I’ve seen a street tree that is looking unhealthy, who do I report this to?

Get in touch with the Hackney Council Tree team who maintain all of the borough’s Street Trees and will be appreciative of your help in spotting trees in need of some TLC.

If you have a new Street Tree on your doorstep, consider helping it settle into its new home by watering it during the months when they’re in leaf and more at risk of drought-stress. This can be from March til November for many trees but all-year-round for evergreens. Around 15 - 20 litres a week is ideal!

There is a tree in a park that needs some attention, who do I contact?

We plant a lot of trees in parks but we are not responsible for all trees that you will find in green spaces across Hackney. If it is a young tree, with a tree guard around it, it is likely to be one of our trees so please send us an email with location (ideally What3Words) and details of the issue (a photo can help). Our network of Tree Care Volunteers will try to get to it as soon as possible. If it is a large tree, please contact the Hackney Council Tree team.

There is a tree in my garden that needs work, can you recommend any professionals who can help?

The Arboriculture Association maintains a list of professional Tree Surgeons, Tree Advisors and Arboriculturalists.

I need some advice on trees, can you help?

We are all volunteers and do our best to answer enquiries to the best of our abilities. However, due to limited resources and time, we may not be able to respond to all enquiries. Email us and we will do our best to respond.

Do you sell trees?

Yes! We sell trees, shrubs and fruit bushes from our collection at our nursery on an informal-basis. Not all trees are for sale as some will be earmarked for planting out in Hackney’s green spaces. Send us an email with what you’re looking for and we can advise on what we have in stock that might suit your needs. You’re also welcome to come in and have a look around at the plants when we’re open.

Do you take payment by card?

Yes, we have a card reader and can take payments by card. 

I’m interested in arboriculture, do you offer training?

We do not currently offer training but we are a good place to get to know other tree-minded people and get some practical experience. Come along to a volunteering session and ask a lead volunteer for more information. You can also check out a list of good resources via this link.

Do you organise sessions for schools and community groups?

We host a variety of groups at the Tree Nursery during the year.  Some groups come for a one-off session and others attend on a regular monthly or quarterly basis.  We work mainly through community based groups with young teens, through the NHS, schools, refugee, and other organisations. In most cases, we require that regular sessions are supported by the organisation because we do not have any special training to manage volunteers who have particular needs.  If you would like to discuss how this might work for your organisation please get in touch.

Do you offer opportunities for corporate volunteering?

We no longer prioritise sessions for corporate groups and focus instead on building relationships with community organisations and small local businesses. We are all volunteers and there is too much work involved in organising a large corporate volunteer session. Small groups of corporate volunteers are welcome to join any of our Tree Nursery work sessions, scheduled plantings, and watering sessions, but if there are more than five of you coming along please let us know. You can keep up to date with our activities by following us on social media and Eventbrite.

I have skills that might be useful to the Tree Musketeers. How can I get involved?

We'd always like to hear from volunteers who have time and expertise to give. We need help to deal with a variety of tasks from answering email to setting up events, from ensuring appropriate governance to organising our volunteering sessions. You may be able to support us with a particular initiative or have an interest in becoming a trustee and filling an identified skills gap. We benefit hugely from the skills of many different people who want to work with us: wood and metal workers; strategic planners; drivers; website designers; researchers; marketeers, fundraisers and more! Whatever your passions and talents, please get in touch and let us know how you’d like to help.

I have a tree that I have grown from seed, can you take it?

Growing of trees from seed is such a rewarding task, we encourage everyone to try it! We are however, limited on space at the Tree Nursery, so we can only take on trees that we know we will be able to plant out. If you know what type of tree you have, send us an email with the type of tree, how tall it is and a photograph, and we’ll let you know if it is worth dropping it off at the nursery.

Who are the Tree Musketeers?

The Tree Musketeers is a charity made up entirely of volunteers who propagate, plant and care for trees in Hackney. We have a Tree Nursery where we propagate and grow-on trees, and we work with Hackney Council to identify spaces that need trees across the borough. We organise volunteer tree planting events and coordinate and support the Tree Care teams, which are made up of local residents and businesses, who help care for newly establishing trees.

We receive funding from Hackney Council, various fundraising grants and through the generous donations of our supporters including Full Time Hobby and many others.

How do I get in touch with you?

Contact us directly on hello@treemusketeers.org.uk. It may take a little time for one of us to get back to you but we will get back.