Forum Topic

Street trees cut down!

The Ealing Council newsletter popped up on my computer a few minutes ago, one of the articles was how well the council was doing planting trees. Are these new trees I wonder or are they merely replacements for those cut down ?During the last week I've noticed one in Vallis Way, three or four demolished in Argyle Road and a couple cut down in Pitshanger Lane. These are mature trees and I suspect they have been around for eighty years or more.

Peter Tolhurst ● 1129d22 Comments

It's a good point. Trees of course do often need to be chopped down because of age or disesase but saplings provide only a fraction of the benefit until they mature. All councils should be obliged to publish an annual tree census showing the overall number and the average age as well as the breakdown by type. This would preven councils culling mature trees to save costs and replacing them with saplings which are still counted even if they never took root.

Mark Evans ● 1123d

Around 10 years ago there was a huge local outcry when a mature weeping willow was cut down in North Acton Playing Fields.Having run past this tree after it was felled I duly notified on this site that it was rotted through at the base and would have easily toppled and possibly killed someone at any time.I think we all HOPE that LBE and its Contractors are doing the right thing.

Rosco White ● 1123d

Ealing ( when it was just a small Borough had a method ( not a policy ) of planting saplings 20 years before the mature trees became too large. A sort of long term crop rotation.  They thinned a few out but did not massively change the street environ.They also used to pollard the larger trees to minimise root growth and contain the height.  Even park trees were regularly maintained. Hence the longevity for so many.But given forward thinking amounts to about 6 months if at all in this country, such vision and experience is pretty much futile.

Raymond Havelock ● 1123d

Two of the trees in Argyle Road are opposite one another, and when passing the stumps do not appear to be diseased.

Peter Tolhurst ● 1123d

There are trees in Lammas Park stressed by compression of the ground some of which is a new shock to some trees caused by running , cycling and short cutting of what works out at thousands of people over a year. Over the past three years these form tracks and the shock of acute compression can lead to root interruption.The simple fix is to decompress the root areas and stabilise the ground. Very effective for Chestnut Trees and large mature trees.But even flagging this up falls on deaf ears. And Tree Surgeons are only interested in easy options of felling, chipping and away. Time is money and doing things properly and effectively are off the menu.Like so many council depts, so many in charge do not respond to council tax paying residents but prefer to only speak with a selected few. And certainly not to anyone with experience and allied professional wisdom, and amongst this boroughs residents there are many who are very eminent.

Raymond Havelock ● 1121d

I spoke to the surgeons cutting down a tree in Pitshanger Lane and asked why it was coming down. I was told that it was due to subsidence and that a large gust of wind could have taken it down at any time. They have also literally cut one down today at the end of Crossway (backing onto Ealing Trailfinders). Don't know why that one came down, but the residents are going to have a much better view of the fireworks this year!

Kosta Mirkovic ● 1115d

I love our mature trees but hate tripping on the roots when they have become so large that they displace the paving stones or tarmac.  I would like to see better removal of tree roots once trees have been cut down because the sprouting roots bursting through the tarmac cause another trip hazard.I can see from the markings on the stakes that an effort is made to check on new saplings planted but I passed one yesterday that doesn't look as if it has made it. :(I believe they do something about decompressing the ground around trees at Kew.When you lose a specialist in-house service you lose the knowledge and experience that goes with it.  It is the price being paid for all the cost cutting.

Philippa Bond ● 1099d

A lot of low cost methods are available and many councils and land managements and  use these.A lot of the problems here are down to chop and change policies and priorities and a complete dismissing of long tried, tested and trusted methods.  It's very rare that new ideas are run parallel for long periods to see the comparisons and when some of these fail it's many many decades to put it all right.Far easier to remove the tree and hey problem shifted to another generation.

Raymond Havelock ● 1099d

Funding nowadays often seems to have to be as a result of Councils applying for and competing with other Councils to obtain grants from Central Government.  Does this encourage better schemes or better long term management?  Or just less of both?

Philippa Bond ● 1098d

Nothing to do with funding. This borough always had a lot of trees, prided itself and valued it's environs.  It had a full infrastructure, to grow maintain and enhance bought and payed for by borough ratepayers. Big enough to service other boroughs. Funding and grants were not an issue it was a core comp[onent of the Corporation activities.Messed around with, run down, part hived off and eventually dismantled for short term gain with no long term plan. A good while ago now. But the chickens are now coming home to roost and no space exists to do this properly and efficiently and locally.Thats Progress .

Raymond Havelock ● 1097d

https://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/our-key-themes/local-government-finance/london%E2%80%99s-local-services-investing-future/decade-austerity#:~:text=Over%20the%20decade%20to%202020,cent%20in%20real%20terms1.There are far fewer employees.

Philippa Bond ● 1096d

But no shortage of very expensive 'initiatives' that achieve very little. No shortage of very expensive advisors, consultants and Executives all of who are not worth a penny compared to those at the other end of the chain who have to cover and endure their inept management implementations.No shortage of the Local Authority and Health Service and TfL Gravy Train elite who achieve little but somehow get elevated by a resume of failure.And it's pointless pointing the finger at Tory cuts as the whole gamut of politicos and their hangers on are all as bad as each other and for decades.

Raymond Havelock ● 1091d

Yes, that's where the money has always been - the public sector.  So the answer to make money out of it is to create a system of advisors many of which will have been hastily trained and not have the experience of say a Clerk of Works with years of experience who knew - and understood - what happened in buildings and what the regulations were and why.

Philippa Bond ● 1090d

to the best of my knowledge no trees have been pollarded for some years nor have suckers been removed from existing trees.  can i suggest the council stop boasting about the trees they have planted and take more care of the trees they already have

jill morris ● 1088d

Won't happen under this Labour Lot, as you well know and allude to.Don't detract 'em from their Virtue Signalling or confuse 'em by speaking Common Sense.    😆

Rosco White ● 1087d

They do pollard the trees, although it’s done on a rotation basis so several years will pass between visits to your street. Usually parking suspension notices go up but teams often don’t attend on the day specified, then turn up another day to cut back trees they can access, so it is somewhat hit and miss.If you think a tree is struggling or obviously suffering disease you can contact the tree department, maybe through your local councillors, and an officer will visit to inspect. Remedial action will take place if necessary.Planting new trees is all well and good but a tree officer I know at another Borough told me that about 30 percent of saplings will fail within a year, for a variety of reasons.

Simon Hayes ● 1087d

One of the reasons that the saplings fail is due to drought.  They need to be watered and that is enough water at the roots to encourage those roots to go down not a small amount on the surface which encourages roots to stay at the surface.  It is encouraging to see the markings on the posts where the trees have been visited for a wellbeing check but sadly missed visits during holiday times may coincide with hot weather.  Sometimes trees have watering bags attached to them.  Never think that just having trees planted is enough.  Please keep an eye on them and alert someone if the tree is in trouble.  Management often is by ticks on an excel type sheet but of course the ground conditions for  each tree may vary.  Trees@ealing.gov.ik used to work.  I don't know if it does now.  They say it takes a village to raise a child...I agree about the suckers - they appear to have been ignored.  I also believe that if trees are pollarded at the wrong time you get a lot of growth lower down which blocks pavements and reduces visibility for and of pedestrians and drivers and consequently safety.

Philippa Bond ● 1087d

Of course trees need water, as all plants do, particularly when first planted.What you are overlooking here is the inability of local authorities to properly manage their street trees. It’s not just boasting about planting x number of saplings, it’s about a comprehensive plan of care and maintenance. Last year Hounslow asked residents to water trees the council planted. All very well until you consider that they require 50+ litres a week for three years, more in times of very dry weather. Not very practical if you are on a water meter.Maintenance isn’t just about watering, though.I have my doubts about tree selection as well. Ealing planted a number of Liquidambar saplings on Windmill Road a couple of years ago on the stretch by Gunnersbury School. These grow to heights between 50-70m, which isn’t ideal on a relatively narrow stretch of road. I suspect the residents on the east side won’t be too impressed by the blocking of light andcthe impactnof the roots on their property in years to come.

Simon Hayes ● 1087d

That should be 50-70 feet in height.

Simon Hayes ● 1087d

Of course like some other things Civic Pride and a bit more of that from Residents would help.A few residents water young trees diligentlyIts a resident who mows and clears St Mary's Square which looked disgusting earlier this summer and last year as well.Its a few residents in some streets who clear and bag leaves and sweep the paths making it easier for the regular street cleaner to keep it neat and clean.It's a few residents who walk around Lammas park picking up litter and clearing upThe same in a few streets in Brentford.But the look of disdain from other residents and clearly the attitude of doing such is 'beneath them' is really sad.These are the real champions of towns. Not the ones who are allied to politics and pressure groups.The ones who every week do a little bit to keep their environs clean and tidy for not just themselves but for others.Residents do have a part to play but councils over decades have discouraged Civic Pride under the auspices of Health and Safety and job protection etc.Fine if the Borough can actually deliver. But it cannot and in fairness it needs help and willing. Which in it's present form with non communicative officers and councillors it is woeful bordering on scandalous.Fact is Ealing and Hounslow both have a minimal ability for almost every basic service, Trees are badly neglected, Parks are shabby and way below what they were ( which was  still short of excellent but good enough). Obsessed with propoganda and photocalls and soundbites for showboat vanity projects but no sustenance.It should be a requirement that some minor things like weeds on front garden walls and pavements along frontages in residential roads be at least swept by residents as long as the detritus is collected by the council promptly.It's no real big thing and no harm but good if one does an elderly or unable neighbours.

Raymond Havelock ● 1087d

Water butts to collect rainwater avoid the need for all water going through the water meter. Water that comes out of your cold water tap is treated to be drinking water which isn't necessary for watering the garden or flushing the loo. There are an amazing number of different types and shapes and colours of water butts. There always used to be offers and sometimes two for one so maybe you could share with someone else and reduce the cost.Trees help to reduce flash flooding:https://heartofenglandforest.org/news/trees-and-natural-flood-managementTrees often suffer illness and with climate change there are likely to be some trees that used to be very happy no longer being so happy.  It is lovely having an established avenue of all the same trees planted at the same time but as soon as one has a problem that perfection is lost.  A mix and there is bound to be something that is happy.

Philippa Bond ● 1086d

When I said that the only people I had come across brushing up the leaves on the street and they had been foreigners I was rounded on.  Yet that was true and when walking to work I would see shopkeepers and pub staff sweeping the pavements in front of their premises.  Cigarette butts are extremely poisonous and get swept into the drains and poison our rivers.  I understand that sweepings from streets have to go to be incinerated to make energy as those leaves are so contaminated with heavy metals, oils, tyre residue, dog dirt, weedkiller and litter - rather than being composted which is what is supposed to happen to our garden waste. There are a lot of people who just think that they have paid enough Council Tax for the Council to do everything as if some sort of valeting services as well as all the other things like social care, schooling and everything else.  Some things we can help with ourselves and other we can't.

Philippa Bond ● 1086d