This project is run by Street Trees for Living and Greentalk via the Grow Back Together website. The website can be accessed directly through growbacktogether.org, treehere.com, or by scanning the project QR code at tree pit locations.
Who can take part
This project, running in partnership with Lewisham Council, is open to residents and employees living and/or working in the Lewisham Council area only, and any residents applying to become a ‘Tree Guardian’ must abide by the following terms and conditions.
Tree Guardians must be 16 years or older to take part in this project.
Applications for expressing an interest to look after a tree in a current vacant tree pit is open to residents from 10 March 2023. All successful applicants that become Tree Guardians will be notified in September 2023, and all trees will be planted by end of December 2023.
UPDATE JULY 2023: Please note that the successful notification date has now been extended from July 2023 to allow for additional resident consultation time to take place.
How to Apply
Applicants locate a vacant tree pit on the Grow Back Together project map, near their residence or place of work, and complete the online application form to express their interest in looking after a tree in that location, i.e. to ultimately adopt a tree and become a ‘Tree Guardian’.
The application form will assess the eligibility for taking part. The applicant will also be required to sign-up to Grow Back Together.
Only residents, or employees that work within 100 metres of a current vacant tree pit, can apply to register their interest to become a ‘Tree Guardian’.
A ‘Tree Guardian’ is an individual who ‘adopts’ the tree and makes a commitment to look after and water the tree to ensure that the tree thrives and survives.
A Tree Guardian will be required to actively look after and manage the watering of the newly planted tree for a period of up to 3 years minimum. This time period provides the best possible opportunity to thrive and grow in that location.
Consideration must be made by any potential applicant that they are able to carry or supply water on a regular basis, i.e. a realistic view must be taken that they are close enough to a tree to regularly water it.
All applicants that successfully register their interest in adopting a tree will be notified in September 2023, if they are successful in becoming a ‘Tree Guardian’ in this project.
A ‘Standard’ size tree will be planted in the vacant tree pit for all applicants that have been successful.
Applicants that are successful will become a ‘Tree Guardian’ and their commitment to look after their tree will commence once the tree is planted.
All trees will be planted by the end of December 2023, with watering to commence the following March.Tree Guardians will not be required to pay for any newly planted trees, but must have access to provide and supply enough water to their adopted tree on an on-going basis during the main growing periods from March-October, and/or periods of dry and hot weather.
The Trees
A total of up to 100 trees are available to be purchased and planted for this project. For further information about the criteria for selecting the vacant tree pit locations, see our About page, and also the Grow Back Greener Fund website.
All newly planted trees will be paid for and planted by funding received through the Grow Back Greener fund and Lewisham Council. The type of trees selected will be chosen by Street Trees for Living and Lewisham Council with a view that these trees will have the best chance for survival in the planting locations.
Consent to plant the new trees on pavements in the London Borough of Lewisham have been approved and obtained through Lewisham Council. All trees planted will remain the property of the London Borough of Lewisham.
It is the responsibility of Street Trees for Living and their chosen street tree planting contractor to plant the tree provided.
The Tree Guardian's Responsibilties
It is the responsibility of the Tree Guardian to maintain and water the tree. Greentalk will send tree watering notifications to all Tree Guardians as part of the project on an on-going basis, up to a period of 3 years.
Tree Guardians undertake to water their adopted tree at their own risk. Street Trees for Living, Greentalk, and Lewisham Council shall not be liable for any injuries or accidents that occur while looking after and watering the adopted tree(s).
Street Trees for Living, Greentalk and/or Lewisham Council may ask from time to time for an update on how the trees are developing, for the purposes of monitoring the success of the project and sharing updates on our news pages.
Your Data
All data collected (including e.g. name, address, contact number) is for the purposes of carrying out and managing this project.
Greentalk Ltd is the Data Controller. Your data will not be shared with any third parties, except for those parties involved for implementing this project, including but not limited to Street Trees for Living, who will be planting the free trees at the agreed locations.
The above data will be held for a period of 6 years since the last interaction (login into the website) from the user or if the user asks for account deletion or other event under GDPR which triggers deletion or the end of project in accordance with the Grow Back Together Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
