6 Bournemouth Trees Damaged In Vandal Attack

News

West Cliff Green seaside resort in Bournemouth has been the target of another vandalism attack, with six trees that were planted to replace others previously damaged now having been hurt as well.

According to the BBC, the six pine trees were planted and fenced off by Bournemouth Borough Council around three months ago, but now sections of bark have been carved out of their trunks. It’s thought that the motive behind the attack is to ensure an unimpeded view of the sea – and Dorset Police are now investigating the incident.

The first attack took place last June, where three pines on the top of the cliff were drilled and had poison poured into them, killing two out of the three. Tests carried out on the third surviving tree revealed that a crystal-like substance found on its bark was herbicide glyphosate.

Chris Colledge of the West Cliff Green Residents’ Association commented on the new incident, saying: “Words are insufficient to express the absolute outrage and disappointment.”

You need to take care with your own trees when using herbicides and weedkillers such as glyphosate. Damage can occur if the wrong type is used or if it’s misapplied. Glyphosate damage will show up as leaf browning and yellowing or shoots collapsing on soft-stemmed plants. Take care when using weedkiller – and always check that your watering can isn’t contaminated or that residual weedkillers don’t leach into beds lying next to each other.

For further help and gardening advice, get in touch with Rickmansworth tree surgeon experts Arbormedics today.

Not Enough Trees Being Planted

News

Those getting the best tree surgery London has to offer will know how special trees are, but a recent report shows that there aren’t enough trees being planted in the UK.

Trees are not only important for our environment due to the fact that they absorb carbon dioxide form out atmosphere, but also because they can negate flooding risk. In fact an increase of just 10 per cent in the rate of tree planting in urban areas could minimise the impact flash flooding could have on these areas in the future.

In fact it is due to this that the Welsh Government committed to planting 2,000 hectares of woodland in 2010, an ambition that has not yet been realised The Woodland Trust has revealed.

“Tree planting in Wales has fallen off a cliff,” a spokesman told the BBC.

“We are seeing the lowest tree planting levels in a generation, only 100 hectares in two of the last three years, showing the failures of Welsh Government to meet the already weakened aspiration of 2,000 hectares of new woodland per year until 2020.”

The national manager for Wales has blamed a lack of public support and problems with planning permission. Both of these have got in the way of securing funding and opportunities to increase tree planting in Wales.

One of the reasons the Welsh Government committed to such an optimistic target was in order to boost wood production, as we import 60 per cent of our wood in the UK.

Garden Shade: Is It Underrated?

News

There are a few reasons capital-dwellers with gardens come to the best tree surgeon London has to offer. Sometimes a tree can be dangerous, or posing a threat of damage to property, but sometimes it’s just a case of giving the rest of your garden a chance.

Yes, sometimes even a tree you love can have such a negative effect on the rest of your garden, you don’t have much choice but to have it felled. However, some gardeners and horticulturists make the case for shade in a garden as having some positive effects.

With that in mind, this handy guide from The Independent helps you weigh up the pros and cons of shade in your garden, whether its from tree or even a garden shed.

So as for the cons  – certain flowers will never bloom in the shade, zinnias and roses for some. Likewise, shade is no good for vegetables so if you’re hoping to get some seasonal produce from your garden, then big screening trees are a no-go.

When it comes to pros, horticulturist Jenny Rose Carey is all about the benefits of partial shade – after all, shade is a moveable object with the time of day. It can give relief to plants in super hot weather, much like we’ve experienced in the past month, helping them to thrive against the odds.

However, striking the balance is delicate, so that huge canopy tree that’s blocking out all the light to your garden will undoubtedly have to go.

 

What Is Sweet Chestnut Blight?

News

At the start of this year, lab tests confirmed that there had been an outbreak of sweet chestnut blight in the south-west near Exeter, with tree and woodland owners, tree professionals and plant traders called on to check their trees frequently and report any possible symptoms to the Forestry Commission England.

Following this outbreak, plant health authorities imposed a prohibition on the movement of tree material including logs, plants, foliage, branches and firewood out of or within six zones, five in Devon and one in Dorset.

But unless you’re particularly familiar with this disease, you might well miss it so learning about it and being able to recognise the symptoms would certainly be a good idea.

It’s caused by a fungus that is only known to affect sweet chestnut species, not posing any risk to pets, people or livestock. Oak trees can be affected if they stand nearby very heavily infected sweet chestnuts, but little damage is done. Remember as well that horse chestnut species aren’t affected.

Symptoms of the disease always occur above ground, with the parasite attacking the bark of the tree and entering through fissures in the wood. On grafted trees, you’ll typically find infections in the region of the graft, but in orchards or coppices the infection can be located at the base of the stem.

You can use the Forestry Commission Tree Alert service if you do think your trees have been affected by sweet chestnut blight but always check the symptoms first before submitting a report. You can also submit a diagnosis request of a pest or disease problem if you own or manage woodland.

To find out more about tree surgery in Kingston, get in touch with us today.

Beware Of Trees In High Winds This Year

News

While you would typically associate the month of June with nice, dry and relatively settled conditions weather-wise, this year has seen the month start off with some incredibly high winds – which could prove quite destructive if you haven’t been taking care of your trees at home.

According to the Guardian, a man has died after a tree was blown down by the wind and landed on his car, which should be all the warning you need to call out tree surgeons in Rickmansworth so you can make sure your trees are safe and don’t pose a serious health risk.

Parts of the UK have been battered by winds of up to 50mph this week, while Tuesday (June 6th) saw over two inches of rain fall. A yellow warning for high winds was issued by the Met Office for the whole of England and Wales (apart from the north-east), with the weather causing train delays and falling tree branches.

Even former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg was inconvenienced by trees and bad weather, saying he was late for an election campaign event in Sheffield because of the conditions. “As the train was speeding out of Derby there was quite a sort of shuddering impact because the train hit what I assume was quite a large tree across the track. So the train was stopped until the tree was removed and disgorged from between the wheels of the front carriage and then we moved on, so all was well and nobody was hurt.”

Homeowners should always pay close attention to the weather reports so they can prepare for high winds and not worry that their trees could come down. Any dead trees should be removed, while overhanging branches that come near structures should be cut down as well.

Remember that falling trees and any debris blowing about in strong winds and storms can result in both fatalities and structural damage – and it’s your responsibility to maintain the trees in your garden, so trimming them back and removing weak branches is certainly advisable if a storm is brewing.

However, it’s rare for trees to fall over or drop limbs because they’re too big. You’d be wise to prune back large trees rather than top them, since topping can result in potentially hazardous rotten trees. Topping can lead to the rapid growth of smaller limbs that are therefore weaker and more likely to fall from the tree. Pruning, however, can reduce the bulk of the tree, reduce wind resistance to make it safer and also allow more wind to pass through it.

Get in touch with a local tree surgeon for further advice. The best time to prune a tree is in the first ten years after it’s been planted so you can train it properly and promote good form and growth. If you’d like to find out more, get in touch with us at Arbormedics today.

‘Tree House’ Goes On The Market In London

News

A derelict, end-of-terrace house completely surrounded by trees has gone on the market in London. Whoever buys the property, which has been left empty for years, will certainly need to call in a tree surgeon in London to get it into a good state!

The house has three bedrooms, a kitchen, reception room and bathroom, as well as a separate garage and a back garden. It’s going up for auction later this month with a guide price of £450,000 upwards.

While that might sound steep for a home you can barely see for the trees at the moment, it’s worth noting that a typical property on this street in London sells for an average of £800,000, so there’s scope for a good profit if it can be purchased for close to that threshold.

Robin Howeson, director at Savills Auctions, told the Mirror that selling a property in this state is rare.

“It has been neglected for so long and is in need of complete renovation. We’re calling it The Tree House,” he said.

Mr Howeson added that he’s surprised none of the neighbours had complained to the council about the state it was in.

Despite the state of the property – and the number of trees surrounding it – there has been a good level of interest in it, he added. It’s in a desirable location in Blackheath, just a short walk from Greenwich Park.

Anyone hunting for a bargain on London’s property market may want to snap this place up for below the average price in this area, particularly given that the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has recorded falling house prices in the capital for 13 consecutive months now.

Call Made To Increase Tree Canopy In Urban Areas

News

If you love walking down the street and seeing lots of beautiful trees lining the pavements, you’ll certainly be pleased to hear that experts think we should increase the number of trees on our streets.

Increasing the density of tree planting has been recommended by experts at a conference in Birmingham last week.

This is in order to increase the number of leaves ‘in the sky’ to increase overall canopy cover. This has many positive benefits, such as reducing the chance of flooding in a local area.

Speaking at the Institute of Chartered Foresters’ Trees, People & The Built Environment conference in Birmingham, Professor Peter Duincker of Dalhousie University in Canada said that while trees were very costly to maintain, they were the most useful of all street furniture.

The conference looked at the overall impact of tree planting in urban areas, and the decisions that are taken around when and where to plant them.

Interestingly, researchers at the conference reported on a study into the number of car accidents involving trees. They found that there were similar numbers of accidents involving trees in both urban and non-urban areas. The greatest risk factor for these accidents was for people driving at night in illuminated areas. Unfortunately, accidents involving trees were among the most severe.

“As well as giving depth and identity to the landscape, trees can guide the driver round bends, warn of upcoming junctions and screen off other drivers,” researcher Maarten Buij told the conference, according to the report in HortWeek.

For tree surgeons in Pinner, give us a call today.

Tree Maintenance A Priority For Thames Water

News

Trees on the Thames Water estate are being assessed in a massive environmental survey with the aim of encouraging more active tree management and promoting safety throughout the grounds.

Both individual trees and woodlands are being inspected by a dedicated team of landscapers, with the survey not expected to be complete until summer 2018, such is the size of the job.

The challenging task will culminate in reports on the condition of trees on the estate, as well as providing details of habitats and identifying any dangerous trees that need to be felled.

Landscapers are drawing up a comprehensive database of the site’s trees and various resident species, which will be referred to for years to come.

With much of the work already completed, arboriculture experts estimate that there are around 150 different species of tree on the estate, including traditional oaks and lime trees, as well as more exotic species such as Indian bean trees and the Japanese maple.

More than 170,000 trees dot the Thames Water site, many of which provide wildlife corridors throughout areas of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, London and the Thames Valley

Senior arboricultural consultant Alan Richardson commented: “One of the main positives of the survey is that it’s raising awareness of the trees.

Although a proactive approach is being employed to maintain the site, dangerous, dead or diseased trees may need to come down before they fall and cause damage or injury, Mr Richardson said

Previously, issues had been raised about overhanging trees along the boundaries of the Thames Water estate in Oxfordshire; Mr Richardson added that there is limited knowledge of where the site boundaries finish. The survey will help to provide a more in-depth overview of the estate and where work is needed.

Need tree surgery in Pinner? Give us a call today.

5 Woodland Walks To Enjoy This Summer

News

With summer fast approaching, the opportunity to spend more time outside grows by the day. And with the good weather comes the opportunity to scout out new kinds of trees and plants for your own gardens. To help inspire you, we thought we’d come up with some of the best woodland walks to go on this year that could give you a few ideas when it comes to planting at home.

Dutton Estate at Hinton Ampner, Hampshire

This estate is home to some wonderful ancient woodland just ripe for exploration. You’ll find native broad leaf trees here, as well as conifers, beech trees and lots more. And that’s not all – it’s also a brilliant place to spot the likes of roe deer, foxes, badgers and rare barbastelle bats so you’ll have a wonderful time if you do go.

Nymans, West Sussex

OK, so it’s pretty unlikely that you’ll have the space for a redwood tree in your garden at home but regardless, you should still make your way to Nymans in West Sussex, where you’ll find a giant redwood tree standing over 50m tall. What a sight to behold!

Roseberry Topping, North Yorkshire

If you want to get up close and personal with some seriously old ash and oak trees, Roseberry Topping’s woodland wildlife walk in North Yorkshire is the place for you. The tracks and paths can be a bit muddy during the winter so now’s the perfect time to make your way to this part of the UK countryside.

Sugarloaf Circuit, Monmouthshire

Sugarloaf is the southernmost peak in the Black Mountains in Monmouthshire and it’s here that you’ll come across St Mary’s Vale, an ancient oak woodland that’s also home to some stunning beech trees. If you’re feeling energetic, this would be a good walk for you since the circular path includes a climb to the top of the mountain – where you’ll get some amazing views of the woodland.

The New Forest

If you’re looking for a place that’s been relatively unchanged by contemporary society, then the New Forest is the very best option there is. It really hasn’t changed that much in 1,000 years and the heath and woodlands are absolutely magical – and even a little bit mysterious!

All sorts of different tree species can be found here, including oaks, redwoods, beech, holly, yew and lots more… but you absolutely have to go on a hunt for the Knightwood Oak, also known as the Queen of the Forest, which is more than 500 years old. Head down the Bolderwood Ornamental Drive (also home to some stunning trees) near Lyndhurst and you should be able to find the Knightwood with ease.

If you’d like any further advice or help relating to tree maintenance and so on, get in touch with us at Arbormedics today. We’re experienced London tree surgeons and are perfectly placed to lend a helping hand.

Dwarf Fruit Trees For Small Gardens

News

You should be looking for the best tree surgeons Putney has to offer if you need to clear your garden.

Then you need to think about what you want to do with your garden to make the best use of it. If you want flowers, then fine, but if you want a slightly more productive garden then consider a dwarf fruit tree.

Many have been bitten by the grow-your-own bug, but small fruit trees are perfect for you if you have limited time to garden, but still want to quite literally eat the fruits of your own labour.

A tree that is well planted may take a couple of years to bear fruit, but will last for decades to come. It may even be a selling point if you ever decide to leave your home-grown Eden.

There are some particular challenges to growing fruit trees in London, and you should always take care to make sure you plant a tree that is suited to your soil type and climate.

London has a warm damp climate and heavy clay soil that can be a particular challenge of many plants, so check out these varieties to get the most out of your garden.

Plum

You want to look for plants on a pixy rootstock for a dwarf tree. This will stop the tree growing higher than about two metres, and is perfect for the warmish conditions that London has to offer.

You will probably have already heard of a Victoria plum, and for good reason. They are hardy and resilient and particularly successful in London.

If you have a north facing garden you may want something a little more frost resistant so consider Czar.

When planting plums consider if there is another plum tree growing nearby? Is it in the same fertilisation period (flowers at the same time) as your variety and can you ask the owner if you can put a bit of the soil from around the base of the tree at the bottom of your planting hold, to ensure you have the correct rhizomes?

Apple

Apples and pears grow well on London clay so give these some serious consideration for your garden. They may take up to seven years to fruit, but plant now to reap the benefits later.

For an excellent display of the many different varieties that can be grown in London head to Fulham Palace Gardens to see their collection, housed perfectly in a walled Tudor garden.

For now try out Cox’s Orange Pippen, which was raised near Slough, making it perfect for gardeners in south-west London. More adventurous eaters may want to try out an Egremont Russet or a Red Pippen, originally raised in Kent.

Pear

These arguably grow even better on clay than apples, and if you have very wet soil may be your best bet. Concorde is without doubt one of the best pears for Londoners as it thrives on clay and is a particularly tasty variety, including conference pear among its parents.

Make sure you get these from a reputable nursery, and consult us for help with ongoing maintenance.