Plea to Residents to Help Water Norwich’s Street Trees
A plea has gone out to the public to water any newly planted street trees close to their homes to stop them drying out.
The Woodland Trust has joined forces with the Arboricultural Association and local authority tree officers in rallying the public to water young street trees during the summer months using greywater from washing up or baths and rainwater collected in water butts. Newly planted trees require at least fifty litres of water a week from May to August for their first three years to help them become established. (1)
Nelson ward Green Party City Councillor Hannah Hoechner said:
“In Nelson ward we are setting up a citizens’ tree warden network for street trees in our ward to encourage residents to water young street trees and monitor their health. Several young trees in the ward died in last year’s heatwave and drought and we want to prevent any further losses.”
As many as 50% of newly planted street trees die within the first year according to the Forestry Commission. (2) Rising temperatures and dry periods are taking an increasing toll on urban trees.
Councillor Hoechner added,
“We were pleased to see the County Council plant nine new street trees in our ward in April, even though sadly, several other trees died. Weekly watering by a council team is part of a three year maintenance programme to establish the trees, but residents giving them extra watering during the prolonged dry spell would be welcome. Without trees, people and wildlife wouldn’t thrive but climate change is making it much harder for our urban trees to survive.”