St Mary's Messenger - Summer 2013

Stoke Stoke Bishop’s Bishop’s Trees: Trees: what’s what’s what’s the the latest?
latest?
By Paul Lewis-Smith
Health Health concerns
concerns
Concern over the health of ash trees in the UK has
prompted me to get up to date on arboreal matters in our
area. I first reported on our local tree population over two
years ago when some of our local horse chestnut trees were
under very damaging attack by a certain kind of leaf miner
that had previously been insignificant (cameraria ohridella).
On the subject of disease, it seems that Bristol ash trees
have not yet been affected by the fatal dieback fungus
(chalara fraxinea). However, the operative word may be
‘yet’. The disease has been found in trees nearby, and
some authorities consider it inevitable that the entire
country will eventually be affected, as it was by Dutch elm
disease. Unfortunately, ash dieback mainly affects the
common ash, which is our third most common tree.
The leaf miners that affect horse chestnuts appear to have
become less active during the last two years, but again we
must be wary of complacency, as the virulence of this
disease is probably related to the weather.
Good Good Good Good progress progress progress progress has has has has been been been been made made made made in in in in
tree tree tree tree planting planting planting planting in in in in some some some some parts parts parts parts of of of of
Bristol. Bristol. Bristol. Bristol.
On On the the the bright bright side side
side
Good progress has been made in tree planting in some
parts of Bristol. Notable in our own area is the planting
that has taken place at Trymside, where some seventy new
trees should be flourishing by the end of this year,
including Indian horse chestnuts, lime, aspen, weeping
willow, and two different varieties of oak. The Indian
species of horse chestnut (aesculus indica) is more
resistant to disease than traditional horse chestnut and for
this reason is being preferred to the traditional species
throughout the city. It produces rather pathetic conkers,
but the flowers are good (they are very similar to those of
the traditional species) and the tree can reach a decent
height: about 30 metres at a push.
Much Much Much Much still still still still has has has has to to to to be be be be done done done done to to to to
replace replace replace replace the the the the many many many many trees trees trees trees that that that that have have have have
disappeared disappeared disappeared disappeared from from from from streets streets streets streets and and and and
public public public public spaces spaces spaces spaces in in in in Bristol Bristol Bristol Bristol since since since since
the the the the 1970s. 1970s. 1970s. 1970s.
Cedar of Lebanon at Stoke Lodge
Our Our inherited inherited trees trees
trees
Community Community Matters
Matters
I was sad to learn that the 200-year-old cedar of Lebanon
at Stoke Lodge may have to be felled, as it is suffering
from dieback. On a positive note, all the trees on Stoke
Lodge parkland now have tree preservation orders. Trees
which are under TPOs must be replaced if they die and no
work can be carried out on them without planning consent.
Planning consent is also required for work on trees in the
Sneyd Park Conservation Area.
Much still has to be done to replace the many trees that
have disappeared from streets and public spaces in Bristol
since the 1970s, not to mention from private gardens. As
many as seventy trees may have disappeared over the years
from avenues on the Downs, judging by the number of gaps
in them. Bristol Tree Forum, the resident/Council coordinating
body for tree matters, is currently liaising with
The Downs Committee in support of a plan to fill these
gaps with new disease-resilient trees, but the project’s
financing remains problematic.
Above Above average average in in in leaves
leaves
The average tree canopy for Bristol is 14%, with our own
locality achieving 21%. While the Mayor has stated that
he hopes to see the city’s tree canopy doubled in a
generation, he has indicated that fund-raising activity in
local communities will be crucial in achieving this target.
He reported to the Tree Forum that ‘tree planting by
communities with special reference to children [involving
children] is a key policy.’
My thanks to the following for sparing me some of their time:
Josie Sadler of Tree Bristol, the Bristol City Council body that
manages community tree planting and sponsorship
(treebristol@bristol.gov.uk); Claire Harbinson, BCC Tree Officer
(Planning); Robert Westlake, Downs Ranger; and Stephanie
French, Tree Champion for the Stoke Bishop, Westbury-on-Trym,
and Henleaze Neighbourhood Partnership.
St Mary’s Messenger 3