[Friends] Lordship Rec Tree Strategy - some thoughts

[A GRAY]

Just some comments on the tree circle, since I was one of the people who raised concern about the proposal to move the oak trees a couple of years ago.
 
You mention 5 points - I will comment on the first three:
 
- valuing the planting of the trees by local people
** this is really important to presrve public confidence in the idea of sponsoring/financing/planting trees as a community activity. If people see 'their' trees moved/removed they are not going to be up for this again
- valuing and preserving what is probably Tottenham's most beautiful daily ground-level view across the borough to Ally Pally
** as several people said when it was first discussed, it's easy to preserve the view from ground level by chopping off low branches from time to time as the trees grow. Already most of them don't have any branches going sideways lower than most people's head height.
- can we be sure that any relocation will be successful and not damage the existing trees
** I think the earlier conclusion on this was that moving them is probably very risky and also very expensive
 
The minutes of that discussion some time ago are presumably still available, as must be the expert opinions given to the meeting(s) at the time about the risks of moving the trees. IMO it's important that those archived decisions/discussions are used rather than starting all over again.
 
regards
 
Anne Gray
 


 


--- On Fri, 29/5/09, dave <dmorris at onetel.com> wrote:


From: dave <dmorris at onetel.com>
Subject: [Friends] Lordship Rec Tree Strategy - some thoughts
To: friends at lordshiprec.org.uk
Date: Friday, 29 May, 2009, 11:49 AM


Hi Peter and Tree Trust folks


Some thoughts on the Lordship Rec Tree Strategy, which I have copied (without the attachments) to the Friends for their information. I attach some documents for you, and I'll send the Arboricultural Report in a following email as its too huge! 

1. Nature Conservation    Hope you got the Lordship Rec Wildlife Focus Group Report ok.. It certainly feels like a very positive development. Last week I attended a meeting of the Design Board overseeing the regeneration strategy for the Rec. I reported back on the Group's findings, and our aim of upgrading the nature conservation value of the park to one of borough-wide importance. This was very well received!

2.  Tree Strategy    For the info of you and the Tree Trust, I attach the key maps and reports about Lordship Rec trees. Let me know if they don't all come through ok. Please feel free to forward to TT members (and the Wildlife Focus Group Report as well).

Overall, the aims are to recognise and value the trees in the park, greatly expand the numbers, and remove a few where there is good reason as part of the regeneration of the park.  

The Friends of Lordship Rec in particular have been successful in protecting and improving Lordship Wood, created as an indigenous Tottenham conservation woodland. It one time the wood was facing threats of being cut down or fenced off due to police concerns over anti-social behaviour (commercial sex and rubbish dumping) inside the wood. We have a work-in this weekend (Sunday 2pm) to complete the wood-chip path and remove overgrown dogwood - you are all welcome to come and join in, and discuss the future of this beautiful woodland (including the need to improve the glades inside the wood) and any related matters. 

We have also planted a new avenue of trees by the main field and argued successfully for a new fruit and nut tree walk/area in the SE field. 

There are other issues and discussions about a whole range of improvements sought, as we have to stand up for and balance the needs of all the users of the park, and their diverse age groups, backgrounds, types of activities etc.

But the Friends are committed to ensuring that overall the improvements will increase the number of trees and the general wildlife value of the Rec. 

3.  Tree Circle   Gemma tells me that the Tree Trust still have concerns over the relocation of the tree circle. Its an issue we have discussed extensively, since it was first proposed over 2 years ago, at the monthly open Friends meetings in the park (the next is on Sunday June 7th, 2pm in the hut near the lake), and at the monthly Users Forum meetings as well. There are pros and cons, like with many proposals in the Rec. 

For example, the Friends of Graham Lee have planted, nurtured and managed many trees by the Moselle River in memory of a local teacher who died some years ago. As a result of the river restoration many of the trees will need to be relocated elsewhere within the Rec. The Friends of Graham Lee are fully involved in the Lordship Rec Users Forum (stakeholders body) and ensure their interests and views are taken into account, whilst recognising that the river restoration is a good thing and will inevitably affect their trees. I can pass on their contact numbers to you if you wish to chat to them about that.

In the case of the tree circle the question we have been asking is do the pros of relocating outweigh the cons? The issues include:

- valuing the planting of the trees by local people
- valuing and preserving what is probably Tottenham's most beautiful daily ground-level view across the borough to Ally Pally
- can we be sure that any relocation will be successful and not damage the existing trees
- what would be the best new location for the circle if moved
- if relocated, would those involved in planting them like them to be 're-dedicated' 

4. Tree Trust    In the light of the efforts to recognise and increase the general profile of the trees in the regeneration of the Rec, would the Tree Trust like to be more actively involved, and how? How could we better promote your organisation? It would be useful if some of your leaflets were generally available at the various events in the Rec.

best wishes

Dave Morris
- member of the Friends of Lordship Rec



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