Will the trees in Barry road ever come in to leaf?

[Saffron]

It's not just a question of the trees themselves. Pollarding outside late winter/early spring has knock-on effects on the birds and insects that make new spring growth their homes. While the trees do need to be pruned for many valid reasons, pollarding out of season is a sad practice. Councils pollard to avoid insurance claims or the percieved threat of claims, and may pollard out of season because they cannot afford to employ enough contractors to prune in the correct season. Also, I've recently read that severe pollarding may cause dead heartwood. Pollarding decreases root growth because it decreases vitality.

Councils may be basing their decisions on the experience of arborists who think their decisions are the only right ones because they've been in the business man-and-boy 40 years, blah, blah blah. But when they're basing their decisions on out-dated, incomplete, non-emperical evidence, how can these choices be accurately evaluated? I was recently enquiring about sources of data on the outcomes of pruning and root growth, and the best the arborist thought to offer was an outdated book on subsidence. Honestly, I'd expect better referencing from a first year uni student.

A large tree growing near a property is not necessarily going to cause problems, but I have the feeling that councils are scared sh1tless of insurance agents. Pathetic. I'd rather just be told outright that councils can't afford to do a correct job, than to have them try to fob me off with a bunch of bollocks.

[Saffron]

Two resouces for anyone in Lewisham:

http://brockleystreettrees.blogspot.co.uk/p/welcome.html

http://nigeltyrell.com/tag/lewisham-trees/

xx

[intexasatthe moment]

Good points Saffron .

Of course we ( or I ) haven't actually heard anything from the council about the reason for this pollarding at this time .

[Saffron]

Lewisham has very little information about their own tree pruning policies online; however, I have spoken with Lewisham council this spring. If you're in Lewisham, contact their planning dept. You're more likely to get a response from them than from any of the councillors IMHE. Southwark is slightly better in that is has some documents online about it tree policies. But you don't have to take my word for it. If you'd like more information, I urge you to contact your local council personally.

[pipsky2008]

In the height of summer now. How do those concerned parties feel about the response to concerns earlier in the year that were raise through local councillors and the contractor,Gristwood & Toms, who undertook the work. Was there ever a reply from the Arboricultural Association by the person who said they would write to them?

[treehugger]

I am the OP. I don't think we ever heard from any professionals or decision-makers about the rationale for the pollarding. The trees are in leaf now, but the leaves are growing all the way down the trunks and have required additional pruning in order to keep the pavements clear. They certainly don't look how they have looked in the past, but I have no idea whether they will look better next year, or whether objective success criteria for the pollarding have been reached, and indeed what those criteria might be.

It just feels so frustrating to have so little information and therefore knowledge as to whether this whole exercise has been a good thing for the health and longevity of the trees (in which case I would be very happy), or whether they have now been damaged (in which case I would be very angry).

[kiera]

Southwark's tree manager is giving a talk to the Peckham

Society at the Goose Green Centre on 20th October at 3pm.

The talk is entitled."The trees of Southwark" and you do not have to be a member of the Peckham Society to attend.

[pipsky2008]

kiera Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Southwark's tree manager is giving a talk to the

> Peckham

> Society at the Goose Green Centre on 20th October

> at 3pm.

> The talk is entitled."The trees of Southwark" and

> you do not have to be a member of the Peckham

> Society to attend.

Date noted. Thank you for that Kiera.

[intexasatthe moment]

treehugger I doubt the trees have been damaged but the question I want answered is why were they pollarded in the summer when they were in full leaf ?

[pipsky2008]

intexasatthe moment Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> treehugger I doubt the trees have been damaged but

> the question I want answered is why were they

> pollarded in the summer when they were in full

> leaf ?

Tree huggers, the trees will be ok.

This was the purpose behind my and a number of other posters questions on this thread, which just haven't been answered. Ask any of the tree surgeons working on the trees, and I have, and they all say this is bad practice, arboriculturally.

[fl0wer]

While we're on the topic here's the latest from George Monbiot, encouraging us all to remind Councils to choose what they plant from a list of native species, which are much more wildlife-friendly.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/georgemonbiot/2013/aug/15/trees-native-exotic-wildlife-councils-insects

Do keep lobbying the councillors for your wards, folks, this is an issue that affects city dwellers everywhere, and particularly influences the beauty of this neighbourhood, set out with its tree-lined avenues and generous parks.