20 October 2009
City brings tree pollarding lessons back from Spain
Specialist staff from the City of London Corporation are
implementing innovative beech and oak tree pollarding techniques
across sites in Burnham Beeches, Epping Forest and Hampstead Heath
following a recent expedition to Spain.
A City of London Open Spaces delegation visited the Basque
Country as part of a visit designed to increase knowledge about
pollarding, a sustainable method of managing veteran trees that can
be traced back over 500 years.
Participants surveyed and worked on trees in northern Spain
including Leitza and Areso (Navarra) and Aiako Harria Natural Park
(Gipuzkoa) alongside local arboricultural experts and site managers
before returning on 9 October.
Sue Ireland, Director of Open Spaces at City of London, said:
"This visit was a tremendous success and helped to build on our
existing expertise in pollarding. Over 90% of ancient pollards in
the UK are under the City's management but unfortunately we cannot
afford to experiment with different techniques due to their
relatively small number."
"The close working relationship that we have developed with our
colleagues in Spain has enabled us to pool our knowledge and
resources, which will help to improve the management of our
precious pollards and beautiful woodlands in both the UK and
Spain."
This visit was a follow up to one that took place in February
2007 when some 40 trees were pollarded using both traditional (with
an axe) and modern (using chainsaws) methods. No immediately
visible differences were detected between the two techniques,
although the research results will be studied in more detail before
a full report is produced.
Pollarding is a traditional tree management technique that was
common place in England and regularly carried out in Epping Forest
and Burnham Beeches until around 200 years ago. A crop of
wood was obtained from the trees by removing branches but not
felling the tree, but animals were able to graze underneath without
damaging the branches. One consequence was that the trees cut
regularly live longer than normal and it is their great age that
makes them so important for biodiversity and heritage.
Pollarding stopped when other fuels became more widely available
but these ‘lapsed’ pollards, those not cut for many years, have
many problems because the branches are now very heavy and the trees
are splitting and falling over.
The Lord Mayor Ian Luder pollarded a beech tree during his trip
to Burnham Beeches last week (13 October – photos available).
Ends
Notes to editors
Press enquiries
Sanjay Odedra, Press Office, City of London Corporation
Tel 020 7332 1835
Mob 07831 542 856
Email
sanjay.odedra@cityoflondon.gov.uk
About the City of London Corporation
The City of London Corporation is a uniquely diverse
organisation. It supports and promotes the City as the world leader
in international finance and business services and provides local
services and policing for those working in, living in and visiting
the Square Mile. It also provides valued services to London and the
nation. These include the Barbican Centre and the Guildhall School
of Music & Drama; the Guildhall Library and Art Gallery and
London Metropolitan Archive; a range of education provision
(including three City Academies); five Thames bridges (including
Tower Bridge and the Millennium Bridge); the Central Criminal Court
at Old Bailey; over 10,000 acres of open spaces (including
Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest), and three wholesale food
markets. It is also London’s Port Health Authority and runs the
Animal Reception Centre at Heathrow. It works in partnership with
neighbouring boroughs on the regeneration of surrounding areas and
the City Bridge Trust, which it oversees, donates more than £15m to
charity annually.
Burnham Beeches
Now regarded as one of the best examples of ancient woodland
in Britain, Burnham Beeches in Buckinghamshire was acquired by the
City of London in 1880, in response to a threatened purchase by
residential developers. Despite its relatively small size of 220
hectares (540 acres), Burnham Beeches attracts around 500,000
visitors a year, who appreciate its tranquillity as well as its
rich diversity of habitats and wildlife.
Epping Forest
Epping Forest, a major public open space and a site of
international importance for its cultural and wildlife value, is
owned and managed by the City of London. Since the 1870’s it has
had a policy of protecting open spaces for the enjoyment of
Londoners. This policy was subsequently adopted by central and
local government and the Green Belt was born.
Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Heath is
the collective name for Parliament Hill and Golders Hill, a total
of 791 acres (320 hectares). The Heath is situated just four miles
from the centre of London and falls within two London Boroughs,
Camden and Barnet. The City of London Corporation has managed
all of Hampstead Heath, apart from the Kenwood area, since 1989,
and has a long established policy of protecting open spaces in and
around London for the enjoyment of the public, at no cost to the
local ratepayer.