The Great Storm Birthday
Last year was the 20th anniversary of The Great Storm, on the 15/16 October 1987.
Overnight, 15 million trees were lost and streets, hedgerows, woods, public parks, private gardens and historic landscapes changed.
Many people woke up to radically different views out of their windows - and also to new recognition of the real value of trees in their patch.
The even more widespread storms of 1990 reinforced the message.
Conker-tree disease
This year, we have the discovery of a virulent new disease sweeping through Britain’s much-loved conker trees.
Bleeding canker, shows as a rash of small, rust-coloured pockmarks. Some of these have been weeping, staining the surrounding bark a toxic red that gives parts of the tree the appearance of corroded iron.
A study published by Forest Research, the Forestry Commission’s research arm, reveals that almost 50% of the UK’s horse chestnut trees could have the desease. In the south-east, it may be as many as three-quarters of horse-chestnuts.
Dutch elm disease was quite exceptional because it was spread by insects and so could move quite quickly,” she says. “We don’t know how this bacterium is moving around. Other similar diseases move in a much more random fashion than Dutch elm disease, so it wouldn’t be explosive in the same sense.”
tree massacre
But now, councils who are felling healthy, mature trees in their thousands. Why? because they are falling foul of insurance companies who insist they are removed.
Our trees need help
Since the Great Storm, The Tree Council have been campaigning to conserve the trees that remain and grow millions of new ones. This is more than simply replacing what was lost - the aim is to increase the UK’s woodland cover (one of the lowest in Europe).
Join their tree awareness work:
Tree Care Campaign: Trees Matter - Cherish Them;
March to September 2007 - launch weekend 17/18 March
National campaign for better care for all trees of all ages
Walk in the Woods: Trees Matter - Enjoy Them
Throughout May 2007
Spring festival to encourage more people to visit woods and parks - and benefit their health
Seed Gathering Season: Trees Matter - Make the Most of Them
23 September to 23 October 2007
Autumn festival to make the most of trees for their seeds, nuts and fruits and autumn colours
National Tree Week: Trees Matter - Plant Them
21 November to 2 December 2007
The annual winter tree planting festival and celebration of trees and woods
Loading ...