What you need for Willow Pollarding Day

Willow Pollarding Day needs more than saws and gloves. You’ll need enough cutting tools and protective equipment for each work team, plus clear site-marking, transport and refreshment supplies. Plan the coffee station, meal service and volunteer registration before shopping, and check batteries, fuel and chargers before the day. This list also covers the items that are easy to leave until the last minute, such as barrier tape, trailer nets, lighting and printed safety information.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Foldable tablesqty 6
Folding chairsqty 30
Party tentsqty 2
Tableclothsqty 6

Tools

Hand sawsqty 8
Pruning shearsqty 10
Loppersqty 6
Axesqty 4
Task tongsqty 4
Wheelbarrowsqty 4
Rakesqty 6
Scoopsqty 4
Broomqty 3
Toolboxesqty 3
Trailer netqty 2

Safety

Work glovesqty 30
Safety gogglesqty 15
Ear defendersqty 8
Safety vestsqty 20
First aid kitsqty 2
Barrier tapeqty 4
Traffic conesqty 12

Equipment

Battery chargersqty 4
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 3
Battery lampsqty 6
Megaphone

Tableware

Reusable mugsqty 40
Reusable platesqty 40
Reusable cutleryqty 40
Water jugsqty 6

Kitchen

Coffee machinesqty 2
Thermos flasksqty 4
Cutting boardsqty 3
Serving plattersqty 8
Serving spoonsqty 8

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 6
Waste sorting binsqty 3
Dishpanqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 3 boxes
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Spa Blauw - 6 bottles
- Sparkling water - 4 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 liter
- Orange juice - 4 liters
- Cola - 3 bottles
- Cola Zero - 3 bottles
- Sandwich rolls - 45 pieces
- Whole grain bread - 4 loaves
- Kaiser rolls - 30 pieces
- Young cheese - 1,5 kilo
- Hummus - 1 kilo
- Peanut butter - 2 jars
- Jam - 2 jars
- Butter - 500 grams
- Cucumber - 6 pieces
- Tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Carrots - 2 kilo
- Bell pepper - 1 kilo
- Mixed lettuce - 1 kilo
- Chickpeas - 6 cans
- Corn - 4 cans
- Rice salad - 3 kilos
- Pasta salad - 3 kilos
- Yogurt dressing - 2 bottles
- Vegan dressing - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Mayonnaise - 2 jars
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Apples - 40 pieces
- Bananas - 30 pieces
- Grapes - 3 kilos
- Muesli bars - 40 pieces
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Cookies - 4 packs
- Sugar packets - 1 box
- Salt - 1 pack
- Pepper - 1 jar
- Trash bags - 3 rolls
- Compostable bags - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Hand soap - 2 bottles
- Hand sanitizer - 3 bottles
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Tea towels - 8 pieces
- Paper towels - 4 packs

Tips

Prepare one complete tool and safety set for each work team, including hand saws, pruning shears, loppers, work gloves, safety goggles and safety vests. Keep spare gloves and eye protection available for damaged or forgotten items.
Allow two to three reusable mugs per volunteer if the coffee station will run throughout the morning. Reusable plates and cutlery should cover the planned meal plus at least 10% extra for replacements and late arrivals.
Bring barrier tape and traffic cones before volunteers arrive, so work areas and vehicle routes can be marked during setup. Do not rely on finding suitable markers at the venue on the morning itself.
Check every battery-powered item at least one day ahead and pack the matching chargers, extension cords and power strips. Battery lamps are useful if registration, tool checks or cleanup continues in poor light.
Arrange transport for branch waste before shopping is finished: check the wheelbarrows, rakes, scoops and broom, and secure any trailer load with a trailer net. Keep toolboxes ready for the sharpened and checked tools.

Frequently asked questions

How many tools do I need for Willow Pollarding Day?: Plan one usable cutting-tool set per work team rather than one tool per volunteer. Each team should have access to hand saws, pruning shears and loppers, with additional tools such as axes assigned only where the work and safety briefing require them. Add at least 10% spare hand tools if the group is large or the worksite is remote.
How much safety equipment should I buy for volunteer willow pollarding?: Provide one pair of work gloves, safety goggles and a safety vest for every volunteer who enters a work zone, plus at least 10% spare gloves and eye protection. Ear defenders should be available for anyone using noisy equipment. Keep first aid kits accessible at the reception point and worksite.
What refreshments should I bring for Willow Pollarding Day?: Provide enough reusable mugs, plates and cutlery for every registered volunteer, with 10% extra for late arrivals or replacements. For drinks, plan roughly two to three servings per person for the first hour, then adjust for the length of the work session and weather. Set up the coffee station before registration begins.
When should I buy and check the equipment for Willow Pollarding Day?: Complete the main shopping at least two to three days before the event. Check tools, batteries, fuel, chargers, lighting, safety equipment and transport supplies no later than the day before, leaving time to replace missing or damaged items.

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