Time May Be Up For Our Avenues

Update: Another tree in Micheldever Road is infected with Bracket Fungus.

The Honey Fungus which has infected several of the lime trees in Micheldever Road, and elsewhere in the Conservation Area, is a symptom of a timing problem which will affect street trees throughout London. That’s the verdict of Paul Wood, the aptly-named the author of London’s Street Trees, who spoke at the Lee Manor Society Annual General Meeting.

Paul Wood speaking to the Lee Manor Society AGM

“We are reaching that time when a lot of trees that were planted in the Victorian and Edwardian periods are reaching the end of their lives,” he said.

Mt Wood was asked what strategy he would recommend for replacing the trees, as they are likely to continue disappearing over the next decade.

“I love consistent avenues of trees. It kind of makes something look really grand,” said Mr Wood. “But what happens in the future is that they all tend to die at the same time because they’re the same age, and particularly if they’re clonally identical, which often street trees are because they’ll be produced by grafting. So, they will be totally identical. They will all pretty much succumb at the same time.

“Maybe a way to think about it would be to have two different trees, which would allow the avenue to mature, and, if one species succumbs, the other species doesn’t.”

The remains of a lime tree which was infected with honey fungus

Mr Wood believes much more needs to be done to protect urban trees. “I feel like Natural England should be providing a register, like the buildings heritage register, and maintaining a list of trees which have great value to the townscape,” he told the meeting.

Mr Wood’s talk covered street trees all over the capital, including Mulberry trees in Lewisham which he said were originally planted in schools for the children to dance around.

 

Paul Wood also showed a tree in Kensington which had grown into an Edwardian pillar box.
Photo: Frances Migniuolo