Forum Topic

Size of the Tree canopy in SW13/SW15

10/10 to those who manage Putney and Barnes Common. Brilliant work.I notice that the gardeners have been chopping down and chopping back lots of trees/shrubs. I would have thought that with global warming all councils country wide would want to be wanting to increase the size of the tree canopy. I am not saying we should necessarily turn Putney and Barnes Commons into forest. I personally would prefer a larger tree canopy and hopefully that would be a nationwide policy. Probably won't tip the balance in climate change individually but maybe nationally or supra nationally. (Lets hope Lula wins in Brazil - sure he is not ideal in many ways but at least he wants to protect the Amazon).

Gregory Edelston ● 1193d16 Comments

https://queensgreencanopy.org/  Now extended to March 2023 so that you can plant a tree in memoriamhttps://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/how-trees-fight-climate-change/

Philippa Bond ● 1186d

Most people don't realise this, but NET Zero by 2050 (emphasis on the net) is predicated on continually planting more trees. The UK cannot possibly produce zero carbon emissions with either current or currently envisaged technology. Thus we get to the "net" zero by planting extra trees. I suspect it is a scam (as Greta Thurnberg says) - there are nowhere near enough actions in place in the UK to reach this target. But it's at least good that we are doing something and more trees is part of it.

Michael Winstanley ● 1188d

Barbara Stevens ● 1189d

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/putneyorchardThe link on the front page doesn't work.

Philippa Bond ● 1190d

I read the original post, but Philippa you always manage to go onto something else. Keep to Chiswick, you don't live in Putney.

Barbara Stevens ● 1190d

Well perhaps Lower common isn't in the conservation area. Ring up Environmental they have everybody logged and tell you who has applied to them to cut trees.

Barbara Stevens ● 1190d

Barbara - did you read the OP's original post?and did you see the write up about the Queen's Green Canopy and Putney Lower Common?  http://www.putneysw15.com/default.asp?section=info&page=conputneycommonbridge002.htm

Philippa Bond ● 1190d

Your not allowed to cut back Philippa, ring Environmental Services. They will put you onto the right people otherwise your information could land people with a heavy fine.

Barbara Stevens ● 1190d

You have to always check for TPOs as well before you chop trees as well.  Chopping roots is also not allowed and there are stiff penalties nowadays.  That is why encouragement to only cut back rather than remove is important.

Philippa Bond ● 1191d

Not if your in a conservation area like us, and if you have moved to Putney you should check on this.

Barbara Stevens ● 1192d

I think you'll find cars and lorries are far more dangerous  to us all but I agree that we should all take more care of trees.  There are charities which will help you to prune your fruit trees and look after them as well as pick the fruit.

Philippa Bond ● 1193d

Thanks Robert - I thought that was going to be the case I just didn't know HOW expensive.  This is exactly why I was putting my comments out there.  How does that compare to having the whole tree cut down and dealt with?  It is too late once they are gone but I would and could have contributed to the pollarding rather than losing it altogether and without discussion and help of neighbours and those who consider trees important and understand their importance with climate change we won't manage to keep the leaf cover and numbers up.  We need saplings but are losing many larger trees. How many people have actually planted new trees or replaced trees in their small gardens?  It is easier if you have a large garden or they are being planted in parks and on commons.  I wish that saplings given away and young trees sold had a note saying how long it had taken them to grow to the size they are - perhaps it would make people think a bit more about how long it takes them to grow and why they should take more care about them. You can't just rely on someone else to make sure they are looked after.  They say it takes a whole village to raise a child...

Philippa Bond ● 1193d

A lot of the trees down Mill Hill looked like they had died anyway. More dangerous if they fell on somebody.

Barbara Stevens ● 1193d

Every time a householder pollards a tree it costs £500+ no small sum so there are many families in Putney who can’t afford to continually do that.  We are fortunate that Putney abounds in many trees many that are WBCs or WPCC responsibility. 

Robert Wheeler ● 1193d

If you went along the URR opposite Rosslyn Rugby Ground, if you looked opposite it's so dark it's like a jungle. Not really necessary so many trees.

Barbara Stevens ● 1193d

I have been wondering if there was a way that gardeners could be persuaded to reduce the size of some trees rather than cutting them down completely.  They take so long to get to a good size.  Some take tens of years before they fruit (or nut).I've lost the beautiful backdrop of a big black walnut tree in the bigger garden behind mine.  TBH I'm not surprised as I felt it was too good to last as it was too close to the house behind and seemed to have enjoyed and grown a lot in the last two years.  However couldn't it just have been reduced in size?Another three large trees have also gone from the gardens around me - a robinia which never recovered from all the concreting and decking and fencing which new owners had put in when they bought and had their very small garden 'landscaped' before going to live abroad - and two large poplars which could easily have been pollarded (and had been in the last 30 years) which were between the gardens in the two streets.    I enjoyed all three immensely when they were there and now miss them all.  I would and could have contributed to some tree surgery in reducing them in size rather than losing them altogether - but they weren't in my garden - so suddenly they were just disposed of.  A gentle approach to keeping more trees at this time would surely be a good idea.  TPOs sometimes and somehow seemed too harsh but maybe that is what we need when we are all benefiting from them and so would future generations.Not only is it because trees which give us shade, hold carbon and reduce the heat sink effect which when it reaches 40 degrees can be too much for us but we are told NOT to cut back so many shrubs as drastically and to 'tidy' our gardens in autumn as we used to as it reduces the food and habitat for wildlife.  There are more bees now living through the winter and needing food.  A couple of years ago the bluetits couldn't find enough grubs to feed their young because of the changes in the weather meant there were none.

Philippa Bond ● 1193d