Tree news: talks, aftercare, planting

 

                            Note bark strips with access hole retained at the top

I recently attended a talk at Bruce Castle Museum, a short bus ride from Seven Sisters, where Russell Miller, of the Ancient Tree Forum, spoke about the conservation of an ancient Oak in the grounds. We also saw a video by wildlife film maker, Ian Phillips, showing how the team has cared for the tree over the years.

One of the major challenges has been dealing with large voids inside the hollow trunk. These cavities have been used —three or four times—to light fires, which has seriously endangered the tree. After trying various solutions, the team decided to cover the voids to reduce the risk of further damage. They built a wooden framework, covered this in chicken wire and secured bark strips using special screws. If you look closely at the photo below, you can still see some of the underlying structure. 

 

        Chicken wire clad wooden framework peeping through bark
 

At the top, they left openings so fauna can continue to enter the hollow. A smaller section on the opposite side of the tree has been covered in the same way. This approach protects the tree while still allowing access for invertebrates, birds, and bats.

Some of the tree’s heavy limbs are supported with props, and car tyres have been placed between the branches and the props to prevent chafing. The area is also fenced off to stop the public from entering and disturbing the roots. Ideally, a tree of this size—with a circumference of more than two metres—would have a root protection area of over 30 metres in radius, but that isn’t possible at this site. Instead, the protected area is just over 20 metres, which still provides a reasonable level of safeguarding for the tree.

                     Car tyre clads the butress to protect against chaffing.

Closer to home, several new trees have been planted by the Kingston Cemetery Nature Group and Kingston Council respectively: three silver birches in Kingston Cemetery (20.12.25) will replace many that have been lost; two new trees, have replaced the silver birches recently felled. The new trees are Celtis australis or the European nettle, a positive addition to the neighbourhood, and planted in good time in order for the roots to get established before the summer.

                                                                          Celtis australis European Nettle tree
 

Look out for Tree Talks, I have found several recently on Eventbrite or the Arboricultural Association. Although I am a member of the latter, you don't have to be to attend their virtual Wednesday Webinars. Last week we heard from Mark Johnstone, who has been tree officer for several London Boroughs and I met him at the Ealing Conference a few years back. I have covered his books/words of wisdom in previous posts on Heritage Trees. This week, the subject is 'Lost Elms' https://trees.org.uk/ Unfortunately, I can't attend, but luckily once registered, a catch-up link is despatched.