Tree walk of FORA area
Carmela Crute-Jones, a FORA member and qualified arboriculturist, led an hour-long walk looking at some of the street trees in our area on Sunday, March 4. She pointed out those that required attention from the Council and explaining some of the tenents of good tree management.
Some of the interesting advice that Carmela -- who works at the Hornbeam Environmental Centre in Walthamstow-- gave:
* Do not stick tacks or nails into trees. They leave holes where infection can enter. It is better to fasten notices with sellotape, but not string which can also eventually damage the tree as its trunk grows. Or better still use the lamp post!
* Water street trees during dry weather. While you can use cool washing up water, use only if you have used a non-petroleum based product like Ecover.
* Aphids on roses can be controlled by using a weak solution of petroleum based washing up water.
* Do not undertake pollarding or any major works yourself. You can easily kill your tree. Always use a reputable tree surgeon to undertake work for you. Insist on seeing qualifications, postal address, and insurance. If in doubt, ask the council for their list of some recommended professionals. Phone Green Spaces for list.
* Never undertake work yourself on a street tree, but report any problems to your FORA secretary, or direct to the council.
* Always remember, trees are a glory and a benefit. They provide beauty, oxygen, shade, roosting and food for wildlife, they mute noise and hide ugly structures. They absorb pollution, and help soil structure, and can even mitigate temperature extremes, keeping homes near them a little warmer in winter and a little cooler in summer. People in lands that have lost their trees suffer dreadfully.
The walk ended due to rain, but Carmela said she would be happy to lead further walks. We hope to be organising some soon.
Useful links:
www.lbwf.gov.uk, tel 020 846 3000.
www.treecouncil.org.uk
www.treesforcities.org
Hornbeam: For details of Hornbeam?s organic fruit and veg stall on Saturdays between 10-3pm and Saturday Lunch in the café, as well as their "Greening Projects" tel 020 8558 6880.
Carla Reid-Adam,FORA secretary, tel 020 8539 6258.
Some of the interesting advice that Carmela -- who works at the Hornbeam Environmental Centre in Walthamstow-- gave:
* Do not stick tacks or nails into trees. They leave holes where infection can enter. It is better to fasten notices with sellotape, but not string which can also eventually damage the tree as its trunk grows. Or better still use the lamp post!
* Water street trees during dry weather. While you can use cool washing up water, use only if you have used a non-petroleum based product like Ecover.
* Aphids on roses can be controlled by using a weak solution of petroleum based washing up water.
* Do not undertake pollarding or any major works yourself. You can easily kill your tree. Always use a reputable tree surgeon to undertake work for you. Insist on seeing qualifications, postal address, and insurance. If in doubt, ask the council for their list of some recommended professionals. Phone Green Spaces for list.
* Never undertake work yourself on a street tree, but report any problems to your FORA secretary, or direct to the council.
* Always remember, trees are a glory and a benefit. They provide beauty, oxygen, shade, roosting and food for wildlife, they mute noise and hide ugly structures. They absorb pollution, and help soil structure, and can even mitigate temperature extremes, keeping homes near them a little warmer in winter and a little cooler in summer. People in lands that have lost their trees suffer dreadfully.
The walk ended due to rain, but Carmela said she would be happy to lead further walks. We hope to be organising some soon.
Useful links:
www.lbwf.gov.uk, tel 020 846 3000.
www.treecouncil.org.uk
www.treesforcities.org
Hornbeam: For details of Hornbeam?s organic fruit and veg stall on Saturdays between 10-3pm and Saturday Lunch in the café, as well as their "Greening Projects" tel 020 8558 6880.
Carla Reid-Adam,FORA secretary, tel 020 8539 6258.