TDA 133 The Gardening Public's Concerns
Tree Damage Alert No 133
8th July 2009
The Gardening Public’s Concerns
A first for The Tree Advice Trust this year was our having a stand at Chelsea flower Show. We were privileged to be located adjacent to the RHS Advisory facility. We wondered how we would be received, but we should not have worried. On Saturday 16th May The Times listed the ten sites that should be visited giving the TAT stand as number 2. But what was ahead in the list?
The objective of our presence was to raise public awareness of the availability of impartial advice about trees. We prepared a series of large photographs to illustrate the sorts of problems with which we are confronted whether on the telephone, as examination of specimens in the field and laboratory, or advising on conflicts.
Throughout the five, twelve hour days of the Show AAIS staff and volunteer helpers, including two London Tree Officers’ Association members, were kept very busy. So what were the concerns of the gardening public?
The most common question was, not surprisingly, Honey fungus (Armillaria species). One of our display photographs showed a Laetiporus sulphureus fruit body which some visitors thought was Honey fungus. Fresh specimens of honey fungus infected fruit bushes, and dry specimens of mycelium and rhizomorphs allowed us to improve visitors’ understanding of the fungus. There remains a need for the message of Honey fungus identification to be projected. (For details see Forestry Commission Bulletin 100 (out of print) or general notes available from AAIS on request).
A photograph showing an Oak (Quercus robur) supporting Ivy (Hedera helix)that had been browsed by Roe deer stimulated a vast number of enquiries. This showed the public’s often very confused concern about the impact of Ivy on trees. There is need for quantitative information and an appreciation of the opportunities for management of both the support tree and the climber. (The relationship of Ivy with its support is covered in APN 10 Ivy - Boon or Bain?)
Completely spontaneous was the third most common question which showed the public has a very great affection for the Golden Robinia (Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Frisia’). The incidence of trees carrying poor leaf cover and dieing is widespread. Reports received since publication of TDA 129 have demonstrated that this ornamental tree, which has been planted very widely in private gardens, is suffering widespread losses.
At the opposite end of the list of topics was an enquiry from two ladies from Moscow enquiring about red spider mite on Spruce and another from a Canadian wanting a chemical to control bark beetles of unknown species on ‘pine’ trees – the trees were probably Spruce!
So with information and advice about trees being so much in demand what, in the eyes of The Times, could have pushed The Tree Advice Trust’s presence at Chelsea Flower Show into second place? Believe it or not the priority site to visit was for ‘sexy gardening gloves’ – no contest!
Derek Patch, Ben Holding, Harry Pepper and Brian Greig, AAIS, Farnham.
AAIS l Alice Holt Lodge l Wrecclesham l Farnham l Surrey l GU10 4LH
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