Maintaining our trees

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Local residents rightly value the trees that line our streets, and many have expressed concern to BAG at the quality of the councils maintenance of our trees.

BAG have previously contacted the council regarding the erratic pollarding of trees, bracket fungus, and the failure to replace felled trees.

Below are the latest two emails from BAG to the council detailing residents concerns.

(UPDATE 7/12/09) Cllr Reardon responds: “I will find out what the situation is in Leucha, Haroldstone and Glenthorne Roads: why the trees were removed, why the stumps have not been properly cleared and when the necessary work, including replacement, will be done.”

Dear Mr Lawrence (Arboriculture Manager, Greenspace Services),

I am on the Organising Committee of the Blackhorse Action Group (BAG), Resident’s Association and I live on Leucha Road .   I just spoke to Mr Punchard (LBWF’s Nature Conservation Officer) about some trees which have been felled on Leucha Road.  I have been in contact with him over summer aswell (despite him not recalling this fact) to talk about why these trees and others like them have been removed. In particular the tree outside maisonette numbers 215 to 217, which I believe is a Rowan, was of concern to me as it was felled at around the same time as the work done by Thames Water took place on our road. It was speculated that the pipe infrastructure work was the reason for felling a tree which seemed to otherwise be in fine health. There is a tree in front of maisonette no. 42 which, I believe, was also a Rowan but which was felled in the course of yesterday’s arboricultural activities despite not seeming to have had any health problems judging by the quality of the trunk cross-section and the state of it’s base.

I have, since moving in here this time last year noticed that there are several blank spots along the pavement where trees used to be, particularly noticeable by their tarmac patches still visible to the eye (some of which include the grey paving tile-ends). Furthermore there has been the bollard remains of a tree at the Blackhorse Road end of Glenthorne Road, E17 and another felled around the corner on Haroldstone Road. As a local I pass these ‘trees’ frequently and am greatly disturbed by the loss to our environment.

I understand that one, due to be removed today (an Acacia, that split in the recent high winds) is being felled for a good reason nonetheless many others have been gone for some time without being replaced. None of these trees are large enough to affect foundations of buildings and I presume their small nature is why they were orginally chosen for the street when it was built;- it is possible to see very similar trees in the photo from the Vestry House museum which illustrates Guy Osbourne’s Leucha Road LBWF Conservation Area Pamphlet. I have been told today by Mr Punchard over the phone that it is policy to replace trees but based on the above observations the evidence does not appear very encouraging. I have noticed one or two trees being replanted near Forster Road which although in itself is encouraging, I would just query the need to tarmac right up to the trunk. I’d like to draw your attention here to recommendations (the nature of which I’m sure you will be aware) made in a report commissioned by TfL and written by PBA consultants:

The Interaction of Paved Surfaces with Trees

The interaction of paved surfaces with the dynamic nature of trees leads to conflict and invariably damage to the paved surface. Therefore, it is more practical to design the paved surface to accommodate trees, than to try to manipulate or control growth and development of trees.

Tree Root Aeration

The requirement for a well aerated growing medium for tree roots cannot be over-stressed; it is one of the fundamental physiological issues that affect trees growing within paved areas.An impervious surface around trees can cause tree root asphyxiation and ultimate death of the tree.’

Trees within street pavement recommendations PDF

Can you please let me know:
a) when you intend to replace trees on Leucha, Haroldstone and Glenthorne Roads
b) assure me you will pass on to those reponsible for ‘paving’ work the guidance they need to undertake their work in an appropriate manner for the sake of the trees?

Thank you very much indeed,

Kind Regards,
Peter Harms (BAG)

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The council’s tree ‘policy’ is disturbing because it tends towards the elimination of trees. BAG is deeply concerned in this matter, and has raised it before with the council, (bracket fungus on plane trees in Edward Rd, high season pollarding, etc.)

Residents have made it abundantly clear that they like their trees and expect them to be properly maintained and, where appropriate, replaced.

Thank you for your informative and pertinent email, Peter.  I, personally, and BAG, collectively, hope that you get a full and meaningful reply.

Best,
Michael (Blackhorse Action Group)

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Incidentally the tree outside my house was missed out in the last round of pollarding so the branches are now touching my windows and tangling up the phone lines.

At the back of my house the recent bad weather took down a tree obliterating my next door neighbours shed in the process.  The council have been informed but the half dead tree is still dangling where it fell.