Millennium Tree Planting - TrustNews Summer 2000
Tree planting by the Chairman, Robin Merton
and two of the tree wardens,
Gillian Bauer (centre) and Alison Hull. Photo Gilly Merton
The Winchester Preservation Trust supported the scheme, run by Winchester City Council, by funding the planting of 9 Beech trees along the east side of Romsey Road parallel with Moffats Close to complement the existing mature Beech trees on the west side. This was part of a tree planting scheme prepared by myself with the help of 2 other tree wardens, Alison Hull and Annette Lodge.
The Tree Warden Scheme is part of Hampshire Wildlife Trust and they organize training days and have sponsors but cannot fund treeplanting. This is costly in towns where it is more successful to plant larger trees to avoid damage. We liaised with Winchester City Parks Dept. who organised the searches to ensure that underground services such as water, gas and electricity were not in the places we had recommended planting, and they also arranged for the purchase and planting of the trees and will see to the maintenance. Another consideration was to select sites in grass, as opposed to paving and hard surfaces, to make the planting operation easier and preferably sites where the Parks Dept. already carry out maintenance. We were pleased to get 30 Beech trees planted this season and, in addition to Romsey Road, other sites were the Weeke end of Stockbridge Road and in the wide grass islands in Fromond Road. These were generously funded by Hampshire County Council from their environmental Improvement Grants.
Stockbridge Rd an example of a Tree lined
access road to the City
We are hoping that the Winchester City Council Millennium grants which last for this year will mean more trees can be planted. It is extremely important to continue to plant new trees, not only in this anniversary year, as many of the trees in the city are reaching maturity and so much of what is enjoyed in Winchester depends on the abundance and variety of it's trees. The tree lined approach roads are a great feature of this city and every opportunity must be taken to perpetuate tree planting.
When commenting on new developments we also look at the landscaping proposals and in particular tree planting as these sites provide excellent opportunities for keeping the green areas around buildings and in addition can be seen from outside the development. If members would like to plant a tree (or trees) in their own area where the community can benefit, it is not too late to apply for a grant to :-
Winchester City Council, Millennium Tree Grants, Avalon House, Chesil Street, Winchester 5023 OHU.
Serle House Garden, one of the delightful
open spaces facing Southgate St
The Chairman of the Trust comments that:
One of the many facets of the character of our sublime City is the abundance and variety of its trees, which proliferate in our public open spaces, in the avenues on the approaches to our City and in the gardens of the citizens and municipal and commercial premises.
Over the years the Trust has contributed to tree planting in many locations such as Middle Brook Street Car Park, and at the junction of Friarsgate and Eastgate Street. Trees were also planted in Station Approach, which were replaced no less than three times, having been vandalised. Eventually the scheme was abandoned.