After 25 years of amazing service to the Parish, Sally Elliott is retiring as Tree Warden for Woodbury Salterton - to be replaced by local resident Dave Rose. Here Sally reflects on a few current concerns about trees. Despite her modesty, she is a fount of knowledge and passion, and will continue to campaign on local issues relating to the natural environment, especially to trees and soil - some of which will be covered in future blog posts.
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| Dog Lane, August 2015 |
We need trees!
It is sometimes
overlooked that the legacy of arboreal beauty inherited by the present, owes
much to the vision of informed and purposeful planting in the past. Will the
present leave a similar legacy to the future?
Trees are not
merely beautiful. It is no exaggeration to say that the future well-being of
the planet depends on them. Trees stabilise soils and climate, absorb carbon
while releasing oxygen, are central to the ecosystem and biodiversity,
offer shade and shelter, and mitigate flooding. We need trees as never before,
and we need more of them!
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| Field trees and woodland Castle Lane, July 2016 |
Loss of tree cover over the past few decades has motivated the formation of national and local organisations with the aim of redressing the deficit. The Woodland Trust has worked tirelessly to raise awareness, protect Ancient Woodland, and establish new woods. Increasingly, small community-based groups have involved schools in promoting and planting trees in their areas.
The Tree Warden scheme
One of the most
significant developments in this context was initiated and co-ordinated by the Tree Council. Their Tree Warden Scheme was launched in 1990,
largely in response to the Great Storms of 1987 and 1990, when millions
of trees were lost. The volunteer scheme forms a national network linked to
Parish Councils and other local authorities, and has been a tremendous force
for good. In the first 20 years, many thousands of volunteers
have devoted nearly two million hours a year to trees, with time worth about
£15 million. How impressive is that !
Working
with and through the Parish Council, a warden's duties include :
- Organising and taking part in planting and identifying new planting sites.
- Monitoring local trees, reporting on damage and disease.
- Ensuring adequate protection and aftercare for new plantings
- Engaging with the local community, especially schools.
- Leading on local environmental projects.
- Generally promoting trees and their importance.
In 1991,
Woodbury Parish Council appointed a warden for each of the three villages
within its boundaries. Sally Elliott in Woodbury Salterton was one of those original volunteers, and is only now retiring - very reluctantly. However, she will still be on hand to advise
if needed. John Treasaden in Woodbury is also retiring after years of contributing much to the local tree-scape. The present Exton warden, Peter King, is continuing in his post.
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| Tree Wardens John Treasaden and Peter King planting a flowering pear on Woodbury Village Green October 2014 |
Two new Tree Wardens
The
Parish is very fortunate that two young volunteers have stepped forward to
fill the posts left by Sally and John.
Dave Rose is the new warden for Woodbury Salterton, having earned his stripes initiating and co-ordinating the wildlife area on Parkhayes Plantation.
Dave Rose is the new warden for Woodbury Salterton, having earned his stripes initiating and co-ordinating the wildlife area on Parkhayes Plantation.
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| Parkhayes Plantation April 2015 |
Tony Bennett is taking over as Tree Warden in Woodbury. He and his wife Claire set up Wild Woodbury earlier this year, a 30-year project to maintain and enhance habitats for wildlife in the parish.
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| Bird-feeding station installed by Tony Bennett of Wild Woodbury and pupils at Woodbury Salterton School January 2016 |
Both Dave and Tony are full of energy, enthusiasm, new ideas, and an ability for fast learning! They have already had a good start: through the kind invitation of a resident, they were recently able to walk a local smallholding and view the wide range of habitats the owner has created over several years, through his own labour, skill, and knowledge.
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| New tree-planting on a local smallholding |
New woodland has been created and existing woods extended, in which the planting of saplings regenerating from healthy trees has been particularly important. Newly-planted and extended hedges act as connecting corridors. Ponds and drainage ditches have been dug, and wild flower areas encouraged. The peaceful, secluded beauty of these few acres of land throbs with life, and bears testimony to immense dedication. During the walk, many questions were asked, much was learnt, and much was admired.
Tree disease
Amid
the good news it is hard to introduce the bad, but reality must be faced. A
plethora of tree pests and diseases are affecting some of the most common and
beloved species that grace the countryside and our everyday lives. Some are
spreading fast and are a cause of mounting concern.
Many people will remember how Dutch elm disease ravaged this Parish and virtually wiped out the country's stock of elms
during the 1960s and 1970s. Now the oak and ash are also under severe threat from 'acute oak decline' (AOD), and 'ash die back' (Chalara). The Forestry Commission has a distribution map of the spread of ash die back, which is updated regularly, and shows that ash die back has reached our part of Devon in the last two to three years. The Woodland Trust and the Forestry Commission both have good pictures of the symptoms of both these diseases, and relevant information.
One particular fear is that non-woodland trees - growing in small copses and
in hedges bordering lanes and fields, and featuring prominently as landscape
stalwarts - may succumb to these diseases before replacements are established. Without prompt
action, the consequences in terms of landscape and wildlife are unthinkable.
Hedge tree competition
In
response, working with the Woodland Trust and the Tree Council, the Devon Hedge Group has launched a Hedge Tree Competition to persuade farmers and landowners to establish and manage hedge trees to
benefit wildlife and the landscape. The competition encourages farmers and
landowners in regenerating their hedges by allowing promising hedge saplings
to grow up, and by planting new hedge stock, while caring for existing mature trees. Sally has already approached a few local farmers but would welcome help with spreading the
competition's message as widely as possible.
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| An example from Woodbury of good hedge-tree husbandry: a well-trimmed hedge and trees allowed to grow to full height. Approved by the Devon Hedge Group as excellent. January 2016 |
Positive news
We end on a positive note, however, courtesy of a tree named 'Betty'... A recent article in the
national press, reported that plant scientists have discovered a handful of ash
trees in a Norfolk forest which have remained in good health despite being
surrounded by wilting victims of die back. Clippings were taken from the
finest - estimated to be 200 years old - for laboratory analysis. And so it was
that Betty came into public focus - since it became clear that she had all the signs
of stubborn resistance and could be bred to repopulate the land.
It
is to be hoped that the scientists succeed with their invaluable work, and
development of resistant strains are found for oak and other vulnerable
species, thereby securing a rich legacy with which to adorn the future.
In the meantime, we wish our new Tree Wardens very well!
