Turners Oak

Spotted this tree in Alexandra Park recently near the cork oak down from the Phoenix pub. It still some green leaves and I have tentively identified it as a Turners Oak. This is a cross between Holm Oak and English Oak both of which are present in the park. Comments/disagreements welcome!

Unusual Lime

Adrian and I were fascinated by the leaves of this lime tree while on a BTCV work day. Never seen one like this before. It is in Stationer's Park. Tilia mongolica (Mongolian lime), I am surprised that it is not more popular.

Dangerous rot

Immediate response from Islington tree officer to call from Tree Trust member meant this Highbury street tree was removed the same day. Pictures show extent of rot. Notice the almost vertical paving slab on the other side of the tree - was it on the move already? Are the holes part of the vascular system of the tree? Did insects play a part? How much of this rot was hastened by using the base of the tree as a dump for rubbish and rock salt heap in the winter?

Picture shows inside of tree decay cavity, taken upwards towards saw cut.

Dog damage

Dog damaged branch in Alexandra Park.

More signs of spring

We saw a thrush sitting on her nest

in a chestnut tree in Alexandra Park,

3 April 2010.

Spring at last

Horse Chestnut tree buds opening in Alexandra Park.

Tree Wardens/Tree Trust informal walk 3 April 2010.

Spring has come at last!

Grey poplar catkins

Grey poplar catlins on Tottenham Marshes Friday 26 March.

Street trees in Wood Green

On Saturday 20 February tree wardens, guided by Tree Officer Babs Millington, looked at some of the street trees in Wood Green. Here's a beautiful silver birch, an example of a really good street tree.

Who let this happen?

Double leader on the left and crossing branches below should both have been dealt with in the nursery before planting out.

Damage to street trees

A nasty example of a broken branch. Trees suffer damage from vehicles, dogs and more likely in this case from humans. We removed it and the one to the right.

Strangulation

Poor thing! Cord was tied so tightly around this branch that the tree has grown around and there is now no possibility of removing it.

Where's the tree?

Growth from the base of the tree can be unsightly and cause problems but one argument for leaving at least some of it is that it can help prevent damage by dogs.

Supporting trees - yes.

Now this is how it should be done.

Supporting street trees - no!

How not to support trees.

The top picture shows how the posts have rubbed the trunk and damaged it.

Bruce Castle Oak

The veteran oak in Bruce Castle Park. An impressive sight during the snowstorm on Wednesday 6 January.

Saturday morning. The rain stopped just in time for a band of tree wardens, under the supervision of haringey's hard working senior tree officer [and he does allotments too] Alex Fraser, to start planting trees in Priory Park. Alex's assistant was also on hand to make sure we did it properly. We put in five saplings altogether,two Sweet Chestnuts, a Walnut and two Rowans [or maybe it was the other way round..], close to the main path through the park. Some of us dug holes, and heaved trees round the park, others stood and watched and told us how we were doing it wrong...These were five of the more than 800 trees Alex and his team hope to have planted all over Haringey by spring. If you want a tree in your street or park, ask Alex and he may well plant one for you. By 12.30 we were done, and on our way to fun and frolics in the Union Church for the Tree Trust's 13th birthday party, attended by about 60 friends of trees. Great music from the Croissants, photo dispalys,food,drink, raffle..it had the lot and was a great success, due to hard work by the tree trust committee and their friends.

Launching Edible Landscapes in Priory Park 28 Nov 2009

Saturday morning. The rain stopped just in time for a band of tree wardens, under the supervision of haringey's hard working senior tree officer [and he does allotments too] Alex Fraser, to start planting trees in Priory Park. Alex's assistant was also on hand to make sure we did it properly. We put in five saplings altogether, two Sweet Chestnuts, a Walnut and two Rowans [or maybe it was the other way round..], close to the main path through the park. Some of us dug holes, and heaved trees round the park, others stood and watched and told us how we were doing it wrong...These were five of the more than 800 trees Alex and his team hope to have planted all over Haringey by spring. If you want a tree in your street or park, ask Alex and he may well plant one for you.
By 12.30 we were done, and on our way to fun and frolics in the Union Church for the Tree Trust's 13th birthday party, attended by about 60 friends of trees. Great music from the Croissants, photo displays, food, drink, raffle..it had the lot and was a great success, due to hard work by the tree trust committee and their friends.

The Ferry Lane Willow Tree

This beautiful willow should have been given full protection before work started on this massive site on Ferry Lane Estate. Some people may remember its magnificence shading the pub as they walked or cycled along the towpath next to the river. As you can see from the picture(s) no care was taken and they hacked off great boughs because they were in the way of the building! This tree will become a 'nuisance tree' as it is too close to the building. How did the plans get through the planning process? The site is so massive allowing the tree just a bit more room would not have involved much less profit.

SE regional tree warden forum - a great day out in windsor great park

tree wardens admiring veterans.

Cranes in trees in Cranley Gardens

Trees are in the way of deliveries on this site in Cranley Gardens although they are all supposed to be protected on any building site according to British Standards, but that needs monitoring and enforcement. Don't hold your breath.