2007-10

R
If you buy a tree for your garden you want to make sure that it lasts through
to maturity...
Just a handful of simple tasks — that’s
all it takes to give a recently planted tree
a better start in life.
And tree campaigning partnership The
Tree Council is urging everyone who has
planted trees in the last five years to revisit
them in early next spring and give
them some tender loving care.
Each year thousands of young trees,
planted with care, expense and enthusiasm,
die from the lack of just a few minutes
of aftercare — and time, money and
effort are wasted. The ideal time for this
vital care is March or April.
The council urges anyone who is either
planting trees during this winter’s season
or has done so in recent years to go back
and check on their young trees in the
spring.
The Tree Council has come up with
some simple tips for TLC:
• Tending, such as checking guards and
carrying out careful pruning;
• Loosening ties and checking stakes;
• Clearing grass and weeds from around
the tree’s base and applying mulches.
“One of our goals at the Tree Council is
to get better care for all trees of all ages
and the early years of a tree’s life are
particularly important,” said Tree Council
director-general Pauline Buchanan Black.
“In National Tree Week during November
we encourage everyone to get out
and plant trees.
“But it’s not enough just to plant trees,
however well it’s done. If we want young
trees to survive and mature, we need to
cherish the trees in ‘our’ ground in those
important early years.
"It’s vital to go back at least once a year
for about the first five years to check on
recently planted trees and carry out a few
easy tasks that will help more trees to
survive and enhance our neighbourhoods
for many years to come.”
The Tree Council’s Seed Gathering
Season takes place until October 23
when the organisation encourages people,
particularly children and families, to
gather seeds to grow the trees of the future
or to enjoy fruit in jams and pies.
People can go for a walk to collect
seeds, nuts and fruits from parks and
woods or take part in organised events.
As part of project, on October 6, the
South Yorkshire Forest Partnership is
organising the South Yorkshire Wood
Fair in Endcliffe Park.
There will be the chance to see chainsaw
artists and craftspeople in action, do
a rope walk in the trees, build a willow
labyrinth and enjoy fiery musical entertainment.
For details call 0114 257 1199.
National Tree Week takes place from
November 21 to December 2 and is a
long-established annual tree planting festival.
It takes place at an ideal time to
plant more trees of the right kind, and in
the right places. As well as tree planting,
National Tree Week activities include
walks, talks, songs and story telling.
• For more information visit The Tree
Council website www.treecouncil.org.uk.
St Chads Church, Linden Avenue, Woodseats
email: office@stchads.org
Church Offices: 15 Camping Lane, Sheffield S8 0GB Page 22 web site: stchads.org
Tel: (0114) 274 5086