Trees are a natural asset and their benefit to the visual environment can be easily understated. We may think of a typical English countryside view with rolling fields, hedges and specimen Oak trees dotted around. Find out why tree selection is so important below:
But do we ever think of the other benefits trees present to the local fauna and flora?
Trees absorb all sorts of toxins from the air, which is why when you walk around a wood the air always smells and feels that little bit fresher and cleaner. An acre of mature woodland can provide enough oxygen for 18 people and that makes trees pretty important! They also provide significant sources of food and shelter for small woodland animals, birds and insects, all of which are imperative to our ecosystem.
When we pick a tree for a site or our garden, we will want a specimen tree or at least one that will be a real feature as it grows. We should, however, consider a number of things. These include; the size, the spread and height, when and if the tree has visible flowers, the scent, the colour of the leaves in each of the seasons and whether the tree will improve the surrounding environment, perhaps by creating a food source for birds or other small animals.
There are also other types of interest that a tree can bring to its surroundings – bark can be of great interest. Corylus avellana ‘contorta’ has twisted stems and looks great but especially so in the winter when it has no leaves. Whereas, Acer davidii, also known as the “Snake bark Acer”, looks amazing with green and white serpentine stripes on its bark.
Other trees, such as the Tulip tree, Liriodendron tulipifera, is a larger tree which has tulip like flowers when it matures at around the age of 40 years. As can be seen from this tree, sometimes planting a tree is a long-term investment and perhaps even for the benefit of the next generation. This is especially true if you are planting trees that don’t become mature for in excess of 50 years such as the Oak, Beech and Sequoiadendron giganteum that can live for more than 3,000 years!
More commonly found trees suited for planting in a normal sized back garden can include the Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Ballerina’. This is a pretty specimen tree and well worth the space, with lovely blossom in the spring and bright red foliage as it emerges. It also has small dark purple or black fruits in the autumn, which are edible. Another bonus that this tree brings is the fabulous bright red and yellow colours that the leaves turn in the autumn. A truly great tree for a small garden.
An evergreen tree that is another great choice is the Magnolia grandiflora, a lovely tree which has fabulous white or cream flowers. This tree looks great
and gives additional privacy all year round which is especially important when your garden is overlooked by neighbours!
One final tree we couldn’t not mention is the Davidia involucrata, commonly known as the Handkerchief tree. This is a beautiful tree. Discovered in 1869 and introduced to England in 1904, it has large white bracts that are followed by large oval fruits. If you have the space, a sheltered position and fertile soil this tree will prove to a real spectacle within your garden!
If you need any advice on the choice of trees for your site or garden, and especially so if you want the perfect specimen tree, please do contact us and we will be happy to advise.
ProHort also provide other tree related services, including tree surveys and tree preservation order applications and appeals. Why not get in touch to find out more about how we can help you?
Tree related subsidence – What it is and why it happens
Tree related subsidence is defined as the gradual caving in or sinking of an area of land and can be caused by a range of different factors. These can include:
Poor ground quality or an inadequate building foundation,
Historical mining,
The erosion of soil which results in an underground opening,
Excessive levels of water washing soil away from the surrounding area,
Clay soil shrinkage and heave due to the changing weather in summer and winter,
Trees being located within the close proximity of the building.
Have You Got Issues With Tree Related Subsidence?
Trees roots can spread by up to three times the height of the tree which means that, whilst a lot of buildings are not affected by the growth of these roots, those built on shrinkable clay soils and located near to a tree are at significant risk of experiencing subsidence.
Clay soil is highly absorbent, allowing it to take in water and expand during wet weather. The soil then dries out in the warmer weather and shrinks, meaning that there is a constant heave and shrink cycle within areas consisting predominantly of a clay soil type. Trees can then exacerbate the shrinkage of clay soil by drawing the water out of the soil, causing the ground underneath buildings to shrink significantly and resulting in movement within the property foundations. This movement then goes on to cause cracks in both external and internal property walls.
When dealing with a tree that is causing subsidence, it is always necessary to consider the risk of soil heave. This can occur as a result of the clay soil returning to its former moisture level and expanding once the tree has been removed, causing any foundations laid over the soil to lift and potentially cause further damage.
In order to cater for this, each individual occurrence of tree subsidence should be considered based upon a variety of factors including the nature of the surrounding ground, the quality of the buildings foundations, the span and depth of the trees roots in comparison to the building and the typical variations in conditions throughout summer and winter. The potential removal of a tree that is causing subsidence should always be considered on a case by case basis and is highly recommended to be carried out by a professional arboriculturist.
Contact Us
At ProHort, our team have over 20 years of arboricultural experience and are experienced in identifying subsidence resulting from the presence of trees. Find out more about our Tree Subsidence Reports service, or why not get in touch for more information?
Japanese Knotweed Damages Allowed Where Use of Land Affected
Landowners including local authorities and other public bodies may be at risk of nuisance claims following the recent ruling of the Court of Appeal in Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd v (1) Williams (2) Waistell [2018] EWCA (England Wales Court of Appeal) Civ 1514. This case concerned the liability in nuisance of a landowner where Network Rail had allowed Japanese knotweed to grow in close proximity to its neighbours’ land. This is the case even though no actual damage was caused.
The Court of Appeal found in favour of two homeowners who had sued Network Rail after knotweed from a railway embankment had spread to their properties.
The Court of Appeal went to great lengths to state that the presence of Japanese knotweed was not actionable under a nuisance claim because it had diminished the market value of the respondent’s properties. The decision means that those claiming nuisance will need to demonstrate that the nearby presence of Japanese knotweed interferes with their use and enjoyment of the land.
However, in practice, the presence of Japanese knotweed is always likely to interfere with a property owner’s use of enjoyment of the land. Furthermore, the presence of the Rhizomes, despite not causing any physical damage, was noted by the judge as being a “natural hazard”. The Judge said. “They affect the owner’s ability fully to use and enjoy the land.”
What Is Japanese Knotweed?
Japanese knotweed, which was described by the court as a “pernicious weed”, is a fast-growing plant which is difficult to eradicate and spreads rapidly through an extensive network of underground roots, stems or rhizomes. While the plant itself can quickly grow to a height of over two metres, the roots can extend up to seven meters horizontally and three metres vertically, affecting buildings and construction works.
Because of the potential ramifications of Japanese knotweed on the property, the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has published a policy stating that it might affect the valuation of the property and might be an issue for customers whose property is affected but who cannot afford the treatment costs. The policy requires the valuers who inspect property for mortgage purposes to report on the presence of knotweed within seven meters of the property to lenders, so that they can take account of it as part of the valuation process.
Sir Terence Etherton, giving the judgment of the Court of Appeal, described a claim of private nuisance as one based on “a violation for real property rights”. This violation need not necessarily take the form of physical damage to property; however, it could not consist of merely pure economic loss.
In view of the above, to minimise risk of liability landowners and public bodies should take steps to identify if any Japanese knotweed is present on their land and then take steps to eradicate it.
Contact Us
If you have issues with Japanese knotweed then please contact us today…
Landscape Strategy in London
ProHort were commissioned to prepare a Landscape Strategy in London for the proposed redevelopment of a pre-existing equestrian. The primary purpose of the strategy was to provide the developers and local council with a document that responded to existing local borough environmental policy, sustainability and transport initiatives and the concept plan. The strategy incorporated the principles set out in these and incorporated certain ideas and initiatives into the landscape strategy proposals. The strategy was designed to be flexible in order to adapt to change and to respond to a place that is by its nature ever changing. And provides a long-term vision for the enhancement of the site.
The principal concern of the local council was the potential impact on the ecological value of the site. Having been vacant for a number of years the area had become overgrown resulting in the development of numerous valuable wildlife habitats identified as scarce in the local borough. The strategy was informed by visiting the site and utilising existing ecological and arboricultural surveys to help formulate a holistic methodology designed to not only retain the most valuable ecological features identified but to proactively manage these and further improve them.
In addition, the strategy outlined methods to create further wildlife habitats through the planting of carefully selected plants such as the inclusion of species most beneficial to invertebrates within the proposed hay meadows of the site. This, together with careful management of the meadows and other areas were designed to provide a valuable food source for locally at-risk species such as bats. Furthermore, the strategy considered the character of the site and local perception of it. The inclusion of a designed tree shelter belt was put forward to help retain its existing character as a wooded space.
If you need a Landscape Strategy for your development, get in touch now or check out the Landscape Strategy page for more information.
