Hillier Trees and The Tree Musketeers have announced the launch of a new collaboration dedicated to planting, protecting, and promoting trees in urban communities.

With over 160 years of horticultural experience, Hillier is one of the UK’s leading tree nurseries, supplying high quality trees to the landscaping industry, local authorities, and private estates. Combining traditional knowledge with cutting edge research, Hillier grows trees that thrive in a variety of environments, making it a natural partner for a grassroots organisation committed to bringing more trees into local communities.

The Tree Musketeers is a community led nursery based on the Hackney Marshes. They involve residents and volunteers in growing, planting, and maintaining trees, often in places where they might not otherwise be planted. Working closely with tree officers, park staff, local community groups, and volunteers, the group ensures that trees not only get planted but are nurtured long term.

This summer, Adam Dunnett of Hillier and Marcelo White of The Tree Musketeers met at the Hackney nursery to explore how the two organisations could work together. Their shared passion for horticulture, education, and sustainability has inspired a partnership that unites industry expertise with meaningful community impact.

Adam Dunnett, Production & Amenity Director at Hillier Trees, said: “When I visited the community tree nursery this summer, I was blown away by the work The Tree Musketeers have been delivering over many years in their community. Trees grown with real passion and planted and maintained by the community for the community.

"Hillier Nurseries are delighted to be able to help support The Tree Musketeers team with training and advice from our skilled growers, helping the group’s volunteers produce even more and better trees and inspiring the next generation of volunteers to continue the great work already delivered. Groups like The Tree Musketeers are a vital piece of our tree planting jigsaw who need our support to create greener communities and help find the impacts of climate change.”

As part of the collaboration, teams from Hillier and The Tree Musketeers will work together at Hackney Marshes and at Hillier's tree nurseries. Hillier teams will volunteer alongside The Tree Musketeers to support local planting initiatives and gain insight into community led engagement and urban tree care. In return, volunteers from The Tree Musketeers will visit Hillier’s nurseries to learn from the production teams about propagation, tree care, and sustainable growing techniques. This two-way exchange of skills and experience will strengthen both organisations, combining Hillier’s horticultural knowledge with the creativity, enthusiasm, and local impact of The Tree Musketeers.

The partnership officially launched on Wednesday 26th November 2025, during National Tree Planting Week, with a ceremonial tree planting event bringing together teams from both organisations to mark the beginning of an inspiring partnership for seasons ahead.

The trees planted during the event were selected from Hillier’s climate resilient tree trials, developed over recent years as part of a wider research programme exploring the future range of commercially viable, UK grown trees capable of thriving in a changing climate. With The Urban Plant Lab, Hillier will be delivering a report in 2026 in which key urban tree species will be rated by future climate resilience. These findings will help shape the future nursery production, ensuring a reliable supply of resilient, UK grown trees that can flourish in our streets, parks, and housing developments, helping to create more successful and sustainable green spaces for generations to come.