Projects/Actions — Transition Town Shoreham

Trees and what we can do

From collaborating with The Birch Tree Project to distribute over 200 birch saplings to gardens in Shoreham, to piloting planting street trees in a Shoreham Road, Transition Town Shoreham has taken forward local enthusiasm for trees in many ways in recent times.

We have just completed the implementation of a Street Tree Project in Shoreham, where we bid for seed funding then gained community support for a series of street trees in less advantaged areas of town. Planted and being watered by neighbours, there are more set to go in the ground this coming winter 2025/2026.

Tree Festival 2025

Tree Festival 2025, covering the Living Coast UNESCO Biosphere, is another collaboration which will see around 20 events take place in Shoreham and Southwick and more across Sussex. We are working with The Shoreham Society, Tree Action, The Birch Tree project, CPRE, the countryside charity, Sussex and Wordfest.

There’s something for everyone – from walks, talks, music and storytelling to children’s activities and our ‘I Love This Tree Because…’ photography competition. Whether you’re curious about wildlife or simply love being outdoors, everyone’s welcome.

The main festival weekends of 14–15 June and 21–22 June include masses of trails and activities and the“Branch Out” conference in the Shoreham Centre. To find out more and book events go to: CPRE Countryside Charity Sussex

What can we do?

We are passionate about making our local area a better place to live in by planting trees! If you are wondering what you can do close to home to extend the goodness trees and plants can bring, here are some thoughts:

If you live in a flat, try planting cress or micro-greens on your kitchen windowsill, put a pot tree on a balcony or a hanging basket on an outside wall. For ideas try following Jenn - Growing Trees at Home

Do you have outside space? Lift a flag, dollop in some compost and pop in some seeds or fill pots with shrubs and water often. Check out the tree sapling offers for smaller garden spaces at The Birch Tree Project or More Trees Please , or ask to join the Growers and Givers Shoreham-by-Sea Facebook Page for free tree offers which come up from time to time, and more.

Is your garden limited in size? Spy out a space where a small tree can grow, or plant shrubs that local wildlife will like.

Plant trees in your road? Do you want to live in a leafy avenue instead of a barren streetscape? Get together with neighbours to get trees planted in your green verges.
West Sussex residents can go to the West Sussex donate a tree scheme for tips on how to go about it.

Love your local park/rec? There are lots of young trees that need watering and a bit of care every now and then, and more to be planted.
To volunteer at monthly tree care sessions go to Tree Action UK

Share what you’re doing
When people see things are happening they join in. Let us know what tree and plant related action you are taking by filling in this form, to let others see the energy and ideas that are happening in our communities. There’s a chance to win a prize for the best tree initiative, to be awarded at next year’s Tree Festival 2026.

Other tree resources:

I Dig Trees offer free tree packs if you are a community organisation with space and agreement to plant. Donations are also welcome.

The Woodland Trust offer free trees for publicly accessible land

Urban Tree maps in England