June 2024: Loss of Hedgerow on Elstree Hill South
We were shocked to see that the hedgerows between Elstree Hill South and the houses was cut down, including many large trees.
EBGBS asked HBC questions as to why this devastation had occurred.
1. Were all the different species of trees on this site suffering from the same disease?
2.Were any of the trees subject to TPO's?
3.Was any consideration given to cutting away the diseased parts of the trees rather than cutting them down?
4.The entire area has been completely churned up and decimated. Was it not possible to cut down the threes with less damage?
5.Mature trees were felled. Will they be replaced by saplings which will take many years to grow or will more mature replacements of the same species be used?
6.Can you please give an indication as to when the tree replanting is likely to take place.
The response from the HBC representative was:
Thanks for your email. The works were necessary because the trees were affected by either ash die back or dutch elm disease. There was significant risk of mature trees falling across the highway either side of the copse. Although there were a small number of self-seeded saplings of other species (hazel and sycamore) in the copse it was not possible to save these during the works. The mature trees in the copse were predominantly ash with some elm.
There is a clear legal framework for carrying out works. All works were carried out in line with legislation which includes checks for nesting birds. We have been speaking with local residents groups and have shared reports with them. The area was not covered by a TPO but note a TPO does not prevent works to trees especially if they are diseased and unsafe as these were.
Note that the nature of the disease meant that the trees needed felling. Ash die back rots the trees from inside out and what may appear healthy to a lay person actually posed a significant risk to public safety. The works have been carried out in the most effective way possible. They have also exposed a large amount of historic and bulky fly-tipping which we are also removing.
We will be replanting with different but native species. This will take place in the autumn. We are discussing these plans with residents. According to residents wishes there is an opportunity to improve the copse for wildlife by having a much more varied mix of native species and add in features such as bat boxes.
An expert in contact with EBGBS sent the following to HBC:
I am writing to express my anger at the timing and level of destruction of the woodland belt on Elstree Hill South.
Information has come back that the species were Ash and Elm and that these were diseased.
Also this was an emergency.
This is not true - some of the trees were Hawthorns.
Also I checked the stumps there was no sign of disease in the stumps.
The excuse was Dutch Elm Disease and Ash Dieback Disease.
Dutch Elm disease creates dead shoots but the roots are alive and continue to provide fresh suckers which is a resource for invertebrates.
Any dead shoots could be safetly taken down and the rest left to regenerate.
I volunteer in other boroughs and one my sites has just had Elm control - and only those trees that had died and were over pavement were removed.
Elms still stand on the road embankment.
As for Ash , the disease is new and the full aetiology is uncertain. The fact that an Ash tree has the disease does not automatically mean the trees death - we need to find those trees with at least partial resistance.
None of the Ash tree stumps I checked had signs of the blackening that is the advanced stage of the disease.
Replanting is promised but the woodland block has been destroyed, the ecology of the site has gone, to be replaced by a few Council planted saplings of non -local origin and probably planted in the usual straight lines.
There has been no attempt to retain dead wood and following your usual policy of stump grinding any opportunity to retain standing deadwood habitat will be lost.
Worst is the loss of structural complexity including the climbing Ivy habitat with its late nectar and overwintering shelter.
I have managed a woodland for 25 years and volunteered in a borough which would never have done such destruction.
The timing of the damage could hardly have been worse- during the bird breeding season and during bat breeding season.
Knowing how useless you are I am certain no nest roost checks were done.
This was hardly an emergency the tree block has been the same for months and works could have been done outside the breeding season.
It is obvious the Council has no expertise in nature conservation and no regard for it either.
The Allum Lane debacle and the total destruction of standing dead willows which were full of solitary bee and wasp holes along Tykes Water, Leeming Park when they could have been height reduced as other boroughs could and have done demonstrates that this borough is as bad a manager for the natural world as can be and I am glad I do not volunteer here.
EBGBS asked HBC questions as to why this devastation had occurred.
1. Were all the different species of trees on this site suffering from the same disease?
2.Were any of the trees subject to TPO's?
3.Was any consideration given to cutting away the diseased parts of the trees rather than cutting them down?
4.The entire area has been completely churned up and decimated. Was it not possible to cut down the threes with less damage?
5.Mature trees were felled. Will they be replaced by saplings which will take many years to grow or will more mature replacements of the same species be used?
6.Can you please give an indication as to when the tree replanting is likely to take place.
The response from the HBC representative was:
Thanks for your email. The works were necessary because the trees were affected by either ash die back or dutch elm disease. There was significant risk of mature trees falling across the highway either side of the copse. Although there were a small number of self-seeded saplings of other species (hazel and sycamore) in the copse it was not possible to save these during the works. The mature trees in the copse were predominantly ash with some elm.
There is a clear legal framework for carrying out works. All works were carried out in line with legislation which includes checks for nesting birds. We have been speaking with local residents groups and have shared reports with them. The area was not covered by a TPO but note a TPO does not prevent works to trees especially if they are diseased and unsafe as these were.
Note that the nature of the disease meant that the trees needed felling. Ash die back rots the trees from inside out and what may appear healthy to a lay person actually posed a significant risk to public safety. The works have been carried out in the most effective way possible. They have also exposed a large amount of historic and bulky fly-tipping which we are also removing.
We will be replanting with different but native species. This will take place in the autumn. We are discussing these plans with residents. According to residents wishes there is an opportunity to improve the copse for wildlife by having a much more varied mix of native species and add in features such as bat boxes.
An expert in contact with EBGBS sent the following to HBC:
I am writing to express my anger at the timing and level of destruction of the woodland belt on Elstree Hill South.
Information has come back that the species were Ash and Elm and that these were diseased.
Also this was an emergency.
This is not true - some of the trees were Hawthorns.
Also I checked the stumps there was no sign of disease in the stumps.
The excuse was Dutch Elm Disease and Ash Dieback Disease.
Dutch Elm disease creates dead shoots but the roots are alive and continue to provide fresh suckers which is a resource for invertebrates.
Any dead shoots could be safetly taken down and the rest left to regenerate.
I volunteer in other boroughs and one my sites has just had Elm control - and only those trees that had died and were over pavement were removed.
Elms still stand on the road embankment.
As for Ash , the disease is new and the full aetiology is uncertain. The fact that an Ash tree has the disease does not automatically mean the trees death - we need to find those trees with at least partial resistance.
None of the Ash tree stumps I checked had signs of the blackening that is the advanced stage of the disease.
Replanting is promised but the woodland block has been destroyed, the ecology of the site has gone, to be replaced by a few Council planted saplings of non -local origin and probably planted in the usual straight lines.
There has been no attempt to retain dead wood and following your usual policy of stump grinding any opportunity to retain standing deadwood habitat will be lost.
Worst is the loss of structural complexity including the climbing Ivy habitat with its late nectar and overwintering shelter.
I have managed a woodland for 25 years and volunteered in a borough which would never have done such destruction.
The timing of the damage could hardly have been worse- during the bird breeding season and during bat breeding season.
Knowing how useless you are I am certain no nest roost checks were done.
This was hardly an emergency the tree block has been the same for months and works could have been done outside the breeding season.
It is obvious the Council has no expertise in nature conservation and no regard for it either.
The Allum Lane debacle and the total destruction of standing dead willows which were full of solitary bee and wasp holes along Tykes Water, Leeming Park when they could have been height reduced as other boroughs could and have done demonstrates that this borough is as bad a manager for the natural world as can be and I am glad I do not volunteer here.