A guide to the tree warden scheme
How volunteer tree champions make a difference
The Tree Council’s Tree Warden Scheme
Tree Wardens are a national force of local volunteers dedicated to their communities’ trees – in town, city and countryside across the UK.
The Tree Warden Scheme gives people who feel that trees matter an opportunity to:
- champion their local trees and woods
- play an active role in protecting and improving them
- involve their neighbours in tree projects
- get together with like-minded people for training, field trips and practical activities
The Tree Council, which launched the Tree Warden Scheme in 1990, co-ordinates it in partnership with National Grid and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, working with local authorities, voluntary organisations, Parish Councils and local partnerships to set up and develop Tree Warden networks.
Volunteer Tree Champions
Today there are many thousand of Tree Wardens in local networks throughout the UK, forming a volunteer force of immense value to the environment. Together they devote nearly two million volunteer hours a year to trees – time worth about £13 million.
These tree champions work closely with tree officers and conservation bodies, who are key to the scheme’s success. Activities include:
- planting and caring for trees
- woodland management
- setting up tree nurseries using seeds collected locally
- surveying trees and gathering information about them
- providing early warning of threats, disease, decay or vandalism
- spearheading Tree Council initiatives, such as its Hedge Tree Campaign to reverse the decline of trees in hedges
Action for Local Trees
As local tree champions, Tree Wardens are the eyes and ears of their neighbourhoods. Community involvement is a central aim of the scheme.
Some Tree Wardens work with local schools or groups, developing imaginative projects to encourage others to value the community’s trees and woods. Involving children and youth groups helps to reduce vandalism.
Many wardens lead guided tree walks – often as part of the national Walk in the Woods Festival which The Tree Council organises each May – and give talks to local groups.
Tree Wardens help farmers to lay hedges or tag hedge trees. They also encourage local environmental improvement projects and plan tree planting for The Tree Council’s National Tree Week.
How to Find Out More
New Tree Wardens are always welcome and the first step for anyone interested in volunteering is to contact the local network co-ordinator, Nicola Williams, Arboricultural Officer by emailing nicola.williamsLS@basingstoke.gov.uk or by phoning 01256 845616.
The Tree Warden Scheme networks in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are listed on The Tree Council’s website (visit http://www.treecouncil.org.uk/), with details of local contacts. The list is also available from The Tree Council at the address below.
Tree Warden Scheme is an official trademark, registered to The Tree Council
The Tree Council
71 Newcomen Street
London
SE1 1YT
Tel: 020 7407 9992
Fax: 020 7407 9908
Email: treewardens@treecouncil.org.uk
or visit the Tree Council website
The Tree Council
The Tree Council, the UK’s leading tree campaigning partnership, works with its member organisations, Tree Wardens and others for more trees, of the right kind, in the right places; for better care for all trees, of all ages; and to inspire effective action for trees. Its goal is to make trees matter to everyone – and Tree Wardens are key to achieving this.
(Registered Charity No 279000)
