- Pilot Programme Now Open
Built for Establishment. Designed to Disappear.
- Hemp-based material
- Zero collection needed
- No-tie design
The Hidden Cost of Plastic Tree Guards
Expensive Retrieval
Plastic guards often need collecting years later, adding labour, disposal and contractor costs to your project budget.
Plastic Left on Site
Many guards are never fully removed, leaving broken plastic and ties scattered across the landscape for years.
Tight Budgets
Councils and contractors need solutions that are practical and cost-effective, not just sustainable on paper.
Trees Still Need Protection
Deer, rabbits, drought and vandalism still make early tree protection essential. Whatever the guard material.
A Smarter Approach to Tree Protection
TreeBud guards provide the protection young trees need during establishment, then break down naturally. No retrieval. No waste. No future cost.
The first, original hemp-based guard
Made from hemp fibres sourced as a byproduct from the textile industry. TreeBud was the first guard to utilise this approach.
Designed for the establishment period
Provides robust protection during the critical first 3-7 years of tree growth.
No need for future removal
Guards break down in situ, eliminating retrieval costs and site disturbance.
Cost-competitive with standard guards
When future collection costs are factored in, TreeBud aims to be competitive.
Installed
Protects through establishment
Breaks down naturally
No collection required
Built for Woodland Creation Projects
TreeBud is designed for organisations balancing effective tree protection with sustainability commitments and budget realities.
Local Authorities
Meet sustainability targets and reduce long-term maintenance costs for roadside and park tree planting schemes.
Woodland Creation
Scale large planting projects with a cost-effective solution that aligris with woodland creation funding requirements.
BNG & Habitat Schemes
Demonstrate genuine environmental commitment with guards that leave no trace once their job is done.
Charities & Landowners
Protect planted areas without creating a future maintenance burden or site restoration cost.
- Applications Open
We're Looking for Pilot Partners
Free or discounted pilot units for your project
Support choosing the right site and application
Direct input into future product design
Early access before wider commercial release
Next Planting Season
- Accepting applications
100 trees
“I wanted to create something that actually worked for councils and contractors, not just something that looked good in a sustainability report.”
George Bourne
Why TreeBud Exists
The problem isn’t that councils or contractors don’t care. It’s that there hasn’t been a practical, cost-effective alternative. Plastic guards work well for protection, but they create a future problem: someone has to collect them years later, often when trees have grown around them or site access is difficult.
TreeBud was founded to solve this real-world problem. Our guards are made from hemp co-products, material that would otherwise go to waste. And they’re designed to break down naturally once young trees are established.
Common Questions
How long do the guards last?
What are the guards made from?
Are they more expensive than plastic guards?
Do the guards need to be collected?
What kinds of projects are suitable?
Can we trial them on a small scheme first?
How is TreeBud different from other biodegradable guards?
Interested in trialling TreeBud?
- No retrieval required
- No ties required
- Designed for UK planting conditions