publication date: May 16, 2008
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author/source: David Harris
NEWS THAT SOME COUNCILS HAVE BEEN CUTTING DOWN AGED CHESNUT TREES IN THE BELIEF THAT FALLING CONKERS WILL DO GREAT PERSONAL DAMAGE AND GENERATE LAWSUITS. MINISTERS HAVE NOW ISSUED AN EDICT TO URGE ALL COUNCILS TO MATCH THE STANDARDS OF THE BEST TO ROTECT THEIR LOCAL TREE POPULATIONS
Trees in Towns is the largest ever survey in England. It emphasises the key role trees play in reducing climate change impact but, very importantly, how they make a considerable or outstanding contribution to the quality of neighbourhoods in general and housing environments in particular. The survey covered 150 towns across England. It shows that only 11% of trees in towns are between 50 and 100 years old and only 2% are over 100 years. Importantly, with case studies, it sets out what Councils should be doing because most need a tree strategy, including scheduled tree maintenance work.
The top ten most frequently recorded tree specials are:
- Leyland Cypress (14.4%)
- Hawthorn (7.5%)
- Sycamore (6.5%)
- Silver Birch (5.4%)
- Common Ash (4.9%)
- Lawson Cypress (4.3%)
- English Oak (3.3%)
- Japanese Cherry (2.8%)
- Beech (2.8%)
- Holly (2.7%).
Note that Chestnut trees do not feature at all!
