contents

section one

Page

FOREWORD 2

11..00 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND 3

22..00 THE VALUE OF TREES IN WANDSWORTH 6

33..00 THE PRESENT RESOURCE 8

section two

44..00 ACTION PLAN FOR TREES 10

55..00 MAINTAINING AND PLANTING TREES 11

66..00 PROTECTING TREES 15

77..00 CELEBRATING TREES 17

88..00 INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY 19

99..00 IMPLEMENTATION 20

1100..00 ACTIONS 21

CONTACTS 22

BOROUGH TREE STRATEGY 1

TTrreeeess.. AAllmmoosstt eevveerryyoonnee hhaass ssoommeetthhiinngg ttoossaayy aabboouutt tthheemm.. PPeerrhhaappss mmoorree tthhaann eevveerrbbeeffoorree,, wwee rreeccooggnniissee hhooww eesssseennttiiaall tthheeyyaarree ttoo oouurr ssuurrvviivvaall..

BBuutt wwhhaatt aa cchhaalllleennggee:: lliivviinngg tthhiinnggss aass bbiiggaass hhoouusseess tthhaatt ccaann’’tt bbee mmoovveedd.. TThheeyyccaann’’tt ssppeeaakk.. TThheeyy aarree sseennssiittiivvee ttoo tthheeiirreennvviirroonnmmeenntt.. TThheeyy hhaavvee tthhee ppootteennttiiaall ttoooouuttlliivvee uuss -- aanndd tthhee ppootteennttiiaall ttoo bbee aassoouurrccee ooff ttrroouubbllee..

AA SSttrraatteeggyy ssuucchh aass tthhiiss iiss aann aatttteemmpptt ttoorreeccooggnniissee tthhee ccoommpplleexx tteecchhnniiccaall,,sscciieennttiiffiicc aanndd hhuummaann iissssuueess tthhaatt aarriisseewwhheenn ttrreeeess aanndd ppeeooppllee iinnhhaabbiitt tthhee ssaammeeaarreeaa.. TThhee SSttrraatteeggyy pprroovviiddeess aa ffrraammeewwoorrkkffoorr mmaannaaggiinngg tthhiiss hhuuggee lliivviinngg rreessoouurrccee ttoobbrriinngg tthhee bbeesstt ppoossssiibbllee ssoolluuttiioonnss ffoorr aallll..

TThhee AArrbboorriiccuullttuurraall AAssssoocciiaattiioonn eennddoorrsseesstthhee wwoorrkk ooff WWaannddsswwoorrtthh CCoouunncciill iinn tthheepprroodduuccttiioonn ooff TThhee WWaannddsswwoorrtthh BBoorroouugghhTTrreeee SSttrraatteeggyy.. TThhee SSttrraatteeggyyddeemmoonnssttrraatteess aann uunnddeerrssttaannddiinngg ooff tthheeiimmppoorrttaannccee ooff ttrreeeess aanndd tthhee wwiiddee rraannggeeooff iinnfflluueenncceess oonn tthheemm aanndd ffrroomm tthheemm..MMoosstt iimmppoorrttaannttllyy,, tthhee SSttrraatteeggyy ttaakkeess oonnbbooaarrdd tthhee vviieewwss ooff tthhee mmaannyy ssttaakkeehhoollddeerrsswwhhoo hhaavvee bbeeeenn ppaarrtt ooff tthhee ccoonnssuullttaattiioonnpprroocceessss..

TThhee pprroodduuccttiioonn ooff aa ssttrraatteeggyy iiss nnoott tthheeeenndd;; iitt iiss rreeaallllyy jjuusstt tthhee bbeeggiinnnniinngg.. TThheecchhaalllleennggee nnooww iiss ttoo aaddddrreessss iittssiimmpplleemmeennttaattiioonn aanndd ttoo mmeeaassuurree ssuucccceessss..

CChhaapptteerr 1100 lliissttss nniinneetteeeenn aaccttiioonnss tthhaattffllooww ffrroomm tthhiiss ssttrraatteeggyy -- tthheessee ccaann nnoott bbeelleefftt ttoo tthhee TTrreeee OOffffiicceerrss aalloonnee.. IItt wwiillllrreeqquuiirree ccoo--ooppeerraattiioonn ffrroomm aallll lleevveellsswwiitthhiinn tthhee CCoouunncciill,, ppaarrttiiccuullaarrllyy MMeemmbbeerrssuuppppoorrtt aatt bbuuddggeett ttiimmee,, aanndd ooff ccoouurrsseeaaccttiivvee ccoo--ooppeerraattiioonn ffrroomm tthhoossee ggrroouuppsswwhhoo hhaavvee iinnfflluueenncceedd tthhee ddooccuummeenntttthhrroouugghh tthhee ccoonnssuullttaattiioonn pprroocceessss..

II bbeelliieevvee oonnee ooff tthhee mmaajjoorr cchhaalllleennggeessccoommiinngg ffrroomm TThhee WWaannddsswwoorrtthh BBoorroouugghhTTrreeee SSttrraatteeggyy wwiillll bbee ttoo rreevveerrssee tthhee ttrreennddtthhaatt hhaass bbeeeenn iinn ppllaaccee ffoorr mmoorree tthhaann aahhuunnddrreedd yyeeaarrss:: ddee--ffoorreessttaattiioonn.. TThheeSSttrraatteeggyy iiddeennttiiffiieess tthhaatt oonnllyy 22%% ooff tthheeBBoorroouugghh’’ss ttrreeeess aarree nneeww ppllaannttiinnggss aannddtthhaatt tthhee aaiimm iiss ttoo ppeerrmmiitt nnoo ffuurrtthheerrddeepplleettiioonn ooff tthhee BBoorroouugghh’’ss ttrreeee ssttoocckk..TThhiiss iiss aa ccoommmmoonn ssiittuuaattiioonn ffoorr mmaannyyccoouunncciillss iinn tthhee UUKK aanndd oonnee tthhaatt wwiillll oonnllyycchhaannggee tthhrroouugghh ccoonnssiiddeerraabbllee rreessoouurrcciinngg..TThhee CCoouunncciill’’ss TTrreeee OOffffiicceerrss hhaavvee aa ccrruucciiaallrroollee ttoo ppllaayy iinn tthhiiss,, bbuutt tthheeyy ccaann nnoott ddoo iittaalloonnee..

II eennccoouurraaggee yyoouu ttoo eemmbbrraaccee tthhiissSSttrraatteeggyy.. IInn ddooiinngg ssoo tthhee bbeenneeffiittss ffoorrWWaannddsswwoorrtthh BBoorroouugghh rreessiiddeennttss aannddvviissiittoorrss wwiillll ssttiillll bbee ffeelltt aa cceennttuurryy ffrroommnnooww..

Nick EdenTechnical Director for theArboricultural Association.

2 FOREWORD

FOREWORD

The Council published ‘Who Needs Trees?” in 1997 This was a consultation leaflet asking thepublic for comments on the Borough’s trees.

Ideas put forward in response were included in a draft tree strategy for the Borough.

This was the subject of further public consultation during 1999, and further comments havebeen incorporated in this finalised strategy.

This strategy constitutes supplementary planning guidance to the Council’s UnitaryDevelopment Plan

1.01 Trees are the biggest and oldest livingthings in our environment. At one time theycovered much of the Borough, but theenclosure of land and subsequent urbandevelopment have substantially reduced thetree population. Only small remnants offormer woodlands and hedgerows survive.The loss of trees for development waspartly offset by extensive tree planting instreets and parks particularly during theVictorian era. In recent times, storms,diseases, development, pollution anddrought have resulted in the loss of trees,particularly the larger growing ones likeOak, Elm, Ash, Lime and London Plane.Often these have been replaced by smallornamental trees and conifers.

1.02 The great storm of 1987 focused attentionon trees in London, and in particular on thedearth of information about the existingtree resource and the lack of any overallpolicy framework concerning theprotection, management and planting oftrees for the future.

1.03 In 1997 the Council embarked on the firststage in the preparation of a Borough TreeStrategy with public consultation on itsleaflet Who Needs Trees?, which set theagenda for this document. Suggestionsfrom the public have been incorporated intothis tree strategy.

1.1 What is a Tree Strategy?

1.1.1 A tree strategy is a policy frameworkcovering the status and condition of trees inthe Borough, as well as setting out guidanceon managing the existing tree stock andenabling local initiatives through an ActionPlan. It will be supplementary planningguidance to the Council’s UnitaryDevelopment Plan.

11..22 TThhee NNeeeedd ffoorr aa TTrreeee SSttrraatteeggyy

To promote awareness of the value oftrees in our environment.

To interpret the London-wide policyframework on trees set by the CountrysideCommission and the Government Officefor London.

To give direction and guidance to localinitiatives both public and private.

1.3 National Context

1.3.1 The 1992 Earth Summit in Rio culminated in150 countries signing up to Agenda 21 – aworldwide programme of action to ensure asustainable future in the 21st century. TheUK Government’s response was to promoteinitiatives on a number of issues. Againstthis background, and in response to thegreat storm of 1987, a major research studyinto urban amenity trees Trees in Townswas published in 1993. In 1994 theGovernment published SustainableDevelopment, the UK Strategy and UrbanTree Strategies, recognising the value oftrees and the contribution they make in theurban environment.

1.3.2 The Government encourages localauthorities to develop long term strategiesfor the management and care of trees intheir ownership. These strategies shouldplan for the eventual replacement of oldtrees, enable authorities to take advantageof new opportunities for tree plantingprovided by other urban improvementmeasures, and integrate awareness of thecontribution which trees make to the qualityof life in urban areas into the full range oflocal authorities’ activities.

BOROUGH TREE STRATEGY 3

section one

1.0 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

1.4 Londonwide Context

1.4.1 Strategic Guidance for London PlanningAuthorities was published in 1996 andsets out the planning framework for the33 London Boroughs. It points to themosaic of green spaces and open landwhich characterises London’s urbanlandscape as being one of its greatestassets. It points out that London’s treesand woodlands serve a number ofpurposes:

conserving and enhancing biodiversity

conserving and enhancing the physicalenvironment

maintaining air quality

developing opportunities forrecreational enjoyment

conserving and enhancing landscapeand cultural heritage.

1.4.2 Strategic Guidance refers to theCountryside Commission’s report,Action for London’s Trees published in1993 which identified the concept ofGreen Corridors. These are extensivecontiguous areas of trees and open landwhich straddle the major road, rail andriver routes into London.A comprehensive publication, Planningfor London’s Trees – Guidelines forBorough Strategies, prepared for theCountryside Commission and theGovernment Office for London in 1996,sets out guidelines for the preparationof tree strategies.

1.5 Boroughwide Context

1.5.1 The Unitary Development Plan (UDP),approved in December 1994, sets outthe Council’s planning policies for theBorough. The following policies, relatingto the preservation and protection oftrees in the Borough, have been carriedforward into a revised UDP, which wasapproved in June 1999 for deposit:

the Council will seek to protect andenhance the natural environment,encourage nature conservation, andmake Tree Preservation Ordersparticularly on major roads across theBorough. (GEN29)

the Council will seek to prevent theloss of trees of amenity value whengranting planning permission fordevelopment or redevelopment. (ON19)

tree Preservation Orders will be madewhere appropriate to protect trees ofamenity value, with priority to majorroutes across the Borough,development sites and situationswhere important trees are at risk.(ON20)

the Council will promote the care andmaintenance of trees and willencourage their proper managementavoiding removal wherever possible.Where appropriate and safe, deadtrees and wood will be left as a habitatfor wildlife. (ON21)

the Council will support programmesof tree planting and encourage otheragencies to plant new trees includingin new developments, and give adviceon the appropriate type of plantingand subsequent care. (ON22)

4 INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND

landscaping should be an integral partof the design of new developments. Itshould reflect and enhance thecharacter of the area and surroundingbuildings, and take into account theway in which the area is likely to beused. Landscaping should be designedto be readily maintained. (TBE13)

the Council will promote theenhancement of streets and publicspaces, to make them safer and moreattractive for use by pedestrians andcyclists, and will identify opportunitiesfor features, tree planting, public artand other enhancements. (TBE21)

1.5.2 the Council has also agreed a LocalAgenda 21 action plan which includes arange of initiatives which impact uponthe local environment. The TreeStrategy is one of those initiatives as isthe related Biodiversity Action Plan.

BOROUGH TREE STRATEGY 5

2.01 Trees enhance the quality for the urbanenvironment and form an integral partof its diversity. They are essential to ourhealth and well-being, not only infiltering out the harmful effects ofpollution but enhancing people’senjoyment of urban areas.

2.1 A Brighter, Greener Borough

Most people prefer to live and work inleafy surroundings. Trees enhance thecharacter and appearance of theBorough, as well as property values.This creates qualities which encouragebusinesses to locate and attractpeople to live, enhancing the socialand economic life of the Borough.

Trees form an important component ofthe urban landscape. They provideform, colour, texture and movementand change with the seasons of theyear. Trees planted along streets helpto define and frame them giving themvisual significance and enhancing theirappearance.

In urban areas trees help to modify theclimate, providing shade from sun insummer, shelter from rain, andreducing wind speeds. These factorshelp to make public spaces moreusable for people. Trees complementbuildings through their size, scalemassing and colour at different timesof the year.

Trees can help reinforce a sense ofplace in urban areas. They makeimportant landmarks and help peopleto orientate themselves.

Trees help to provide privacy to ourhomes.

Trees help to screen eyesores.

6 THE VALUE OF TREEES IN WANDWORTH

section one

2.0 THE VALUE OF TREEES IN WANDWORTH

Battersea Park, SW11

Trees enhance this new public square.Battersea Square, SW11

2.2 A Habitat for Wildlife

Trees, particularly of those speciesthat are indigenous to the area, canprovide valuable support to a range ofwildlife including birds, insects andbats. This value is only fully realisedwhen the trees are growing in a semi-natural setting such as woodland orwith other associated habitats. It isalso recognised that there are otherhabitats such as wildflower meadowsand heathlands that are equallyvaluable to wildlife and which dependon being kept free from trees.

2.3 A Healthier, Cleaner Borough

One of the most common concerns inurban life is the effect of increasedlevels of pollution on our health and

welfare. Trees are an important agentin reducing these levels. They are ableto absorb carbon dioxide from the air,as well as sulphur dioxide and nitrogendioxide, in the form of smoke and dust.

Trees can absorb noise. Although notas effective as solid walls, they are farcheaper and a more attractive featurein the environment.

Trees help to screen harmful ultra-violet rays from the sun. This can beparticularly important in shadingschool playgrounds.

Trees can have a positive psychologicaleffect, particularly for example withthe passing of winter and thesprouting of fresh new leaves.

2.4 Re-cycling

Green waste from urban trees can bere-cycled for use as woodchip or mixedwith household green waste to becomposted or used for charcoal andother household products.

BOROUGH TREE STRATEGY 7

Street trees,StreathbourneRoad, SW17

Wimbledon Common, SW19

3.1 Numbers

3.1.1 Task Force Trees, who werecommissioned by the CountrysideCommission at the request of the thenSecretary of State for the Environment,carried out a survey of London’s trees in1993. This survey, together with theCouncil’s own records, gives areasonably accurate picture of thenumber of trees in Wandsworth.

3.1.2 According to the survey of London’strees it is estimated that just over halfof the trees in the Borough aremaintained by the council. From therecords the Council is responsible forapproximately 75,000 trees.

3.1.3 The number of trees in each Londonborough largely depends on its area andthe density of development. The mostuseful comparison is the averagenumber of trees per hectare (Mean TreeDensity) which gives an indication of thegreen-ness of an area. The London TreeSurvey estimate ranges from 8 treesper hectare in the city of London to 43trees per hectare in Sutton. At 29 treesper hectare, Wandsworth is slightlyabove the London average.

3.2 Distribution

3.2.1 The survey of London’s trees andWandsworth’s own records suggest thatmost trees (43%) are found in thegardens and grounds of our homes andhousing estates. A further 20% growadjacent to transport routes; mainly instreets and on railway embankments.Another 15% grow in the grounds ofschools, colleges, hospitals and so on.Some 11% grow in our parks and openspaces, and 2% grow onbusiness/industrial sites. The remaining9% grow on other diverse sites – suchas derelict land, building sites,reclaimed land, river banks etc.

3.2.2 The distribution of trees is not evenacross the Borough. The density of treecover in the western half of the Borough(Putney, Southfields, Roehampton andParkside) is greater than in the East andSouth-East (Battersea, ClaphamJunction, Balham and Tooting).

3.2.3 The reason for this uneven distributionis the higher density of development inthe east, characterised by smallergardens, and hence less space to growtrees. The proximity of houses to streetsand density of services in the easternpart of the Borough also gives feweropportunities to plant street trees.

3.3 Species

3.3.1 Only around 30 of the 1,500 or sospecies of trees found growing in GreatBritain are regarded as indigenous. Thevast majority have been introduced orare the result of deliberatehybridisation.

3.3.2 Wandsworth is fortunate in having arich diversity of tree species. Currentlyaround 250 differently named speciesare represented within the Council’sown stock, with no doubt considerablymore in private gardens. Obviously,some trees are more common thanothers.

3.3.3 The London Tree Survey data showsthat over half the Borough’s trees arefrom just 5 different genera – Maplesand Sycamores (acer), Cherries andPlums (prunus), Lime (tilia), Lawson’sCypress (chamaecyparis), and Rowansand Whitebeams (sorbus).

8 THE PRESENT RESOURCE

section one

3.0 THE PRESENT RESOURCE

3.3.4 The figures for Wandsworth are broadlysimilar to those for London as a whole;nine of Wandsworth’s top ten generaare also in the top ten throughoutLondon.

3.3.5 A significant proportion of treesthroughout the Borough are smallornamental, or fruiting species such asCherry and Plum (prunus), Rowan andWhitebeam (sorbus), Apple (malus),trees capable of seeding themselvesand growing without help such asMaple, particularly Sycamore (acer),Birch (betula) and Ash (fraxinus), ortrees commonly used for hedging, e.g.Lawsons Cypress (chamaecyparis). Withthe exception of Birch and Ash, treesindigenous to the British Isles arerepresented in small numbers. Thisdistribution may be a reflection ofgarden size, peoples’ choice and generalavailability.

3.4 Age

3.4.1 It is well known that trees can live to agreat age. Some of the oldest trees in

the Borough arearound 300-400 yearsold. However, it isimportant that there isa balanced agestructure in apopulation of trees.

3.4.2The larger and oldertrees are the mostimportant from anenvironmental,ecological andconservation point ofview. In Wandsworth,41% of trees aremature (i.e havereached over 50% oftheir height). Newplanting represents 2%of trees (i.e. less than 3

years in the ground). The remaining57% represent immature trees, i.e. onesbetween 3 years old and maturity.

3.5 Ownership

3.5.1 The responsibility for maintaining treesfalls on those persons who have a legalinterest in the land on which they aregrowing.

3.5.2 For London as a whole, the percentageof trees in public ownership variesbetween boroughs from 15% to 75%.Dense urban areas generally have ahigher proportion of trees in Councilownership.

3.5.3 In Wandsworth, approximately 50% ofthe trees are on land owned ormanaged by the Council with theremainder owned by individuals,companies, or other bodies.

3.6 Visual Amenity

3.6.1 The contribution that trees make to thevisual amenity of the Borough isdependent on the combined effect ofthe density of tree cover, thedistribution of those species that makea particular visual impact, and location.Large trees planted in groups visiblewithin streets and other public spacesmake the most important contributionto visual amenity. Streets characterisedby trees of high amenity value includeWest Hill, SW15/18 (East Putney/WestHill), Putney Park Avenue, SW15 (WestPutney), Streathbourne Road, SW17(Bedford) and Sutherland Grove, SW18(East Putney/West Hill). Trees of highamenity value are also to be found inthe Borough’s Historic Parks, Commonsand other parks and open spaces.

BOROUGH TREE STRATEGY 9

Private street trees-Putney Park Avenue, SW15

4.01 Trees frequently outlive buildings. Theymay take decades to grow, yet they canbe felled in an instant. Over the last 100years there have been more trees lost inthe Borough than have been replaced.Trees come under threat from changesin climate, increased pollution; urbangrowth, disease, improper care andvandalism. Trees in urban areas need tobe properly managed, particularlywhere they are close to buildings. Manytrees are removed or damaged becauseof problems like overshadowing,structural damage or broken drains, orjust because of concern that these sortof problems will arise in the future.

4.02 The action required includes managingand protecting the existing tree stock,educating people to be more aware ofthe value of trees, and planting newtrees. An essential component is theinvolvement of the community, and awide range of agencies andorganisations from the public, privateand voluntary sector can play their partin ensuring that the number anddiversity of trees in the Borough ismaintained and enhanced for futuregenerations.

10 ACTION PLAN FOR TREES

section two

4.0 ACTION PLAN FOR TREES

5.1 Wandsworth Council

5.1.1 The division of responsibility for treeswithin the Council lies with the followingdepartments:

Leisure and Amenity Services: trees inparks, open spaces, cemeteries(excluding Streatham and Lambethcemeteries owned by Lambeth);arboricultural advice includingmanagement of trees for alldepartments.

Technical Services: street trees onBorough roads (excluding Transport forLondon Road Network (TLRN);planning applications; treepreservation orders; conservation areatree notices; tree root damage claims.

Housing: trees in the gardens ofCouncil-owned properties on housingestates, on estate roads and in openspaces within these estates. In someareas maintenance is devolved toTenant Management Organisations.

Education: Trees in school groundsthat are controlled by the Council. Thisexcludes grant maintained and privateschools, which are responsible fortrees in their ownership.

5.1.2 The Council’s street trees are inspectedand pruned on a two year cycle tomethods which accord with bestarboricultural practice. For other treesin Council ownership the cycle ofmaintenance is every three years, to thesame standard. The Council carries outinspections and organises contracts forpruning and replacement tree planting.Trees are pruned by reducing andthinning the crowns to keep them incheck. Pollarding, the removal of thecrown back to the trunk, is notpreferred nowadays for maintainingstreet trees. This is to allow trees togrow more naturally. Elsewhere,pollarding may be considered where itwould enhance wildlife or be in theinterests of tree management.

5.1.3 Tree roots can cause problems tobuildings and boundary walls, andclaims do arise against the Council inrespect of tree root damage. Whereverpossible trees are pruned to keep theirgrowth in check, to prevent rootencroachment and avoid unnecessaryloss of trees. However, as a last resort, itmay be necessary to remove a streettree to prevent major structuraldamage to adjoining properties.

5.1.4 Occasionally trees are removed in orderto carry out highway alterations. Inthese circumstances, a replacementtree of a similar species and size isplanted in the immediate vicinitywherever practicable.

5.1.5 Healthy, established trees are notremoved for the provision of off-streetparking or parking bays other than inexceptional circumstances and providedthat a tree of similar size can be plantedin the immediate vicinity.

5.1.6 The salting of streets and pavements inwinter can cause damage to trees,particularly during hard winters whenthere is a higher frequency ofapplication. Long dry periods can alsobe damaging to trees. Care is taken overthe salting of streets and pavements,and the watering of trees during dryperiods, in order to minimise the risk ofdamage.

5.1.7 Contractors need to protect trees fromdamage arising from works to install orrepair utilities. A voluntary code ofpractice of the National Joint UtilitiesGroup (NJUG) covers best practicewhen digging trenches in closeproximity to trees.

5.1.8 Wanton vandalism to trees in publicspaces is an occasional problem andone that is best addressed throughenvironmental education.

5.1.9 Opportunities for new planting instreets are limited due to the proximityof underground services and buildings.

BOROUGH TREE STRATEGY 11

section two

5.0 MAINTAINING AND PLANTING TREES

Some streets do not have any trees as aresult, and elsewhere very few newopportunities are likely to arise, exceptwhere alterations to highways arecarried out. Limited opportunities occurthrough traffic management schemes.

5.1.10 The maintenance and planting of treesin the Borough’s Historic Parks,Commons and other parks and openspaces is increasingly governed bylandscape management plans. Thesehave been prepared for Battersea Park(a grade II* Historic Park), Tooting andWandsworth Commons and Putney ParkLane. In Historic Parks the emphasis ison the restoration and repair of thelandscape. The trees provide a valuablesetting to formal and informalrecreational activities, and some of theBorough’s best amenity trees are to befound here.

5.1.11The Council’s policy forplanting trees on its own landis for mainly indigenousspecies in order to reinforcelocal character and identityand because they help topromote biodiversity. Themain species of new treesplanted on Council-ownedland in recent years havebeen Maple, Cherry, LondonPlane and Birch.

5.1.12 The pruning of trees and shrubsgenerates substantial tree waste. TheCouncil encourages tree contractors todispose of waste by taking it to timberstations where it can be re-cycled forwood-chip and compost. However, fallendead trees and leaf litter in woodlandand on the Commons are best left todecompose naturally. Dead trees shouldbe left standing where they would notbe a danger to the public. Many fungiand a number of rare insects are onlyfound in such habitats.

5.2 Railways

5.2.1 Railtrack plc is responsible for linesidemaintenance of the railway lines intoVictoria and Waterloo, as well as theline from Clapham Junction toWillesden Junction. Its policies on treeplanting and maintenance are set out inits Environmental Policy Statement(1997/98). They seek to achieve abalance between control and ecology, toensure that the primary objective of anefficient rail network is achieved,together with the protection of wildlifecorridors.

5.2.2 Railtrack, in partnership with theCouncil, the national Urban ForestryUnit and others, has been involved in aproject to plant trees along the Victoriato Gatwick railway corridor. The choiceof species reflected the requirements ofthe location, with large leafed treesexcluded as they are most likely to giverise to leaves-on-the-line problems. Amixed scrub planting would beparticularly beneficial to wildlife in thissituation and would avoid many of themanagement problems associated withmature trees.

12 MAINTAINING AND PLANTING TREES

Lineside trees - Putney to Barnes, SW15

Trees - BatterseaPark, SW11

5.2.3 London Underground is responsible forthe lineside maintenance of the DistrictLine through Putney and Southfields.The management of trees within thebounds of its operational land is set outin its Track Handbook Maintaining theTrack Environment. This recommendspruning trees when young to reduce theneed for major pruning in the future.

5.3 Transport for London

5.3.1 Transport for London (TfL) isresponsible for maintaining the streettrees on the Transport for London Road

Network (TLRN) includingthe A3 and the A205South Circular Roadthrough Wandsworth, forwhich a LandscapeStrategy has beenproduced. One of itsobjectives is to establishjoint initiatives with localauthorities and otherorganisations, whereappropriate, to achieve aco-ordinated approach toenvironmentalimprovements.

5.3.2For the A3 route east ofTibbet’s Corner, LondonPlane and Lime trees willbe the preferred speciesfor street trees. West ofTibbet’s Corner, Oak, Ash,Birch, and Hawthorn willpredominate for the moreopen areas. London Planeis the preferred speciesfor Upper Richmond Road(A205).

5.4 Wimbledon and Putney CommonsConservators

5.4.1 The Wimbledon and Putney CommonsConservators administer Putney Heath,Putney Lower Common and WimbledonCommon. Their powers wereestablished under the Wimbledon andPutney Commons Act 1871.

5.4.2 The area to the south of Kingston Road(A3) falls within a proposed SpecialArea of Conservation (SAC) and a Siteof Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) andis subject to a Management Agreementbetween the Conservators and EnglishNature. A policy of natural regenerationhas been adopted for the woodlandareas. Oak, Birch, Beech, Hornbeam,and Holly regenerate from naturallydispersed seed. Trees that decay areonly removed if there is a danger to thepublic; otherwise they are left to decaynaturally. Many Elm trees were lost inthe past to Dutch Elm disease, and thereis evidence of its re-occurrence in sometrees that have regenerated. Diseasessuch as this are carefully monitored andappropriate action taken.

5.4.3 The policy on tree planting allows forthe replacement or introduction ofperimeter trees for the purpose ofscreening. Only indigenous ornaturalised trees are used. Somefunding for woodland improvement hasbeen secured under the CountrysideStewardship Scheme.

BOROUGH TREE STRATEGY 13

Street trees -West Hill, SW18

Wimbledon Common, SW11

5.5 Schools and Colleges

5.5.1 The Council is not responsible formaintaining trees in the grounds ofgrant-maintained and private schools.These bodies are encouraged to keeptrees within their ownership properlymaintained and to involve children incaring for trees. The grounds to GroveHouse, within the University of Surrey,are included as a Historic Garden. TheUniversity has been encouraged toproduce a landscape management planfor the garden.

5.6 Churchyards and Cemeteries

5.6.1 The responsibility for the managementof trees within churchyards andcemeteries generally lies with theowners. It was traditional for Yew treesto be planted in churchyards. Over theyears some of these have been lost andconsideration could be given tosecuring their replacement. It isdesirable that landscape managementplans be prepared for some of thesesites.

5.7 Industrial and Commercial Areas

5.7.1 There is scope to improve the visualappearance of many of the industrialand commercial areas of the Borough.In these areas it is desirable thatsuitable opportunities for tree plantingbe identified in conjunction with theowners of the land.

14 MAINTAINING AND PLANTING TREES

section two

6.0 PROTECTING TREES

There are a number of measures that seek togive protection to trees. These include TreePreservation Orders, Conservation Areas, andconditions attached to planning permissions.The nature and operation of these measuresare set out below.

6.1 Tree Preservation Orders

6.1.1 Tree Preservation Orders are used toprotect selected trees and woodlands iftheir removal would have a significantimpact on the environment and itsenjoyment by the public. Priority forTree Preservation Orders is generallygiven to trees which are considered tobe under threat, for example wheredevelopment is proposed. A largenumber of mature trees in the Borough,therefore, have no protection fromfelling.

6.1.2 In making Tree Preservation Orders, theCouncil must show that a reasonabledegree of public benefit would accrue.The trees should therefore normally bevisible from a public place (such as aroad or footpath), althoughexceptionally, the inclusion of othertrees may be justified. The benefit maybe present or future (for example, whenproposed development has taken place).

Trees may be worthyof preservation fortheir intrinsic beautyor for theircontribution to thelandscape; or becausethey serve to screenan eyesore or futuredevelopment; thevalue of trees may beenhanced by theirscarcity; and the valueof a group of trees orwoodland maycollectively beimportant. Otherfactors (such asimportance of a siteas a wildlife habitat)may be taken intoconsideration, butalone would not besufficient to justify themaking of an Order.

6.1.3 Wandsworth made its first Order in1949, and since that time some 270Orders covering over 7,000 trees havebeen made. Orders vary in size from asingle tree to whole streets coveringseveral hundred trees. The latter formpart of the greenway initiative, toprotect trees in front gardens of majorroutes through the Borough and routeslinking major open spaces.

6.1.4 As land owned by the Council and otherpublic organisations is increasinglytransferred to the private sector, controlover works to trees shifts from publicmaintenance to public protection. Thisgenerates an increased demand for themaking of Tree Preservation Orders.The Council’s priorities for making TreePreservation Orders are:

(i) individual trees that are at risk andhave visual impact on the streetscene.

(ii) development sites subject to currentplanning applications and briefs.

(iii) greenways – major road frontages.

(iv) re-surveys of sites following re-development.

6.1.5 The statutory procedures for treepreservation were reviewed by theGovernment in 1994. The outcome ofthe review recognised that somechanges to streamline the procedureswere desirable but at that time therewas no immediate prospect of newlegislation. Certainly a simplification ofprocedures for administering TreePreservation Orders would be welcome.It would also be desirable if powersenabling a general protection of trees,particularly from felling, were available,while some general exemption fromcontrol over routine pruning may beappropriate.

BOROUGH TREE STRATEGY 15

Copper Beech treeprotected by TreePreservation Order,Westmead, SW15

6.2 Conservation Areas

6.2.1 The number of conservation areas inthe Borough has increased from none in1968 to 45 in 2000. They now coverapproximately 45% of the Borough.

6.2.2 Generally all trees in conservation areashave an interim protection. Anyoneproposing to carry out works of pruningor felling must give the Council sixweeks’ notice of their intention. This isto enable the Council to examine theproposal and decide whether or not tomake a Tree Preservation Order. Allnotifications are acknowledged by theCouncil and responded to. Additionaladvice on works to trees is given. If theworks are considered acceptable and/ora Tree Preservation Order is notjustified, then the applicant canproceed. There are some minorexemptions such as trees that are lessthan 75mm in diameter and fruit treescultivated for fruit production.

6.2.3Whilst this givesinterim protection to asignificant number oftrees, it does place anincreasing emphasis oncontrol throughconservation area treenotifications. In 1988some 98 were receivedwhereas in 2000 thishad increased to 715,reflecting in particulara number of newconservation areasdesignated in 1989, andincreasing publicawareness of the needto give notice of works.Any disagreement overa proposal means thata TPO must be made.

6.3 Planning Briefs and Conditions onPlanning Applications

6.3.1 Planning briefs are non-statutoryguidelines prepared for sites which areexpected to be subject to development.Briefs normally contain details ofimportant trees on these sites which itis felt desirable to retain. In order toprotect the trees it is normal practice tomake a Tree Preservation Order.

6.3.2 Conditions are attached to planningpermissions:

to protect trees during developmentfrom damage by plant and machinery;

to require that certain trees areretained;

to require a landscape plan to besubmitted showing retained treestogether with new planting.

The onus is on the owner or developerto comply with these conditions. Anyinfringement may render them liable toenforcement action.

16 PROTECTING & CELEBRATING TREES

Trees in Putney Park Lane, Dover HouseEstate Conservation Area, SW15.

7.01 Trees are part of our history andculture. Recognition of the Borough’strees, their importance, age and visualsignificance may be a cause ofcelebration.

7.1 Great Trees of London

7.1.1 As part of the London Tree Surveypublished in 1994, a number of treeswere suggested as having particularimportance insofar as they possessedoutstanding individual amenity value.This issue was addressed in Action forLondon’s Trees and promoted by theLondon Tree Forum.

7.1.2 Great Trees are identified as beingworth celebrating on the basis of thefollowing criteria:

very old;

very big;

unusual or interesting shape;

culturally or historically interesting;

associated with famous events orpeople;

of particular importance for wildlife;

7.1.3 A Great Tree may be in a street or park,in the grounds of a factory or office, orin a private garden, but it must beclearly visible to the public and itsowner must be willing for it to bepublicised. In Wandsworth a hybridStrawberry tree in Battersea Park andthe Roehampton Lucombe Oak havebeen adjudged Great Trees. The formeris considered to have the largest girthof any of this species in the country, andthe latter, at 32 metres, is the tallest ofits type in London. A tree identified asbeing a Great Tree will be givenprotection through the making of a TreePreservation Order, where it is notowned and maintained by the Council.Great Trees will be commemorated bygreen plaques placed nearby.

BOROUGH TREE STRATEGY 17

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7.0 CELEBRATING TREES

Hybrid Strawberrytree -Battersea Park,SW11

Lucombe Oak, Danebury Avenue, SW15

7.1.4 Nominations for Great Trees should besent to the Director of Leisure andAmenity Services, Town Hall,Wandsworth High Street, London, SW182PU. The tree officer will assess the treeand send recommendations to aselection panel appointed by theLondon Tree Forum to be judged as partof a London-wide assessment.

7.2 Veteran Trees

7.2.1 The Veteran Trees initiative is apartnership between English Nature,the National Trust, English Heritage, theCountryside Commission, The AncientTree Forum, the Forest Authority andthe Corporation of London. The aim ofthis partnership is to promote theconservation of Veteran Trees.

7.2.2 Veteran Trees are trees which, by virtueof their great age, size, or condition, areof exceptional value culturally, in thelandscape or for wildlife. Such trees willnormally be of native or long-established species and particularly oldor large for that species.

7.2.3 The Council supports the Veteran Treesinitiative and encourages groups andindividuals to participate in theiridentification and conservation.

7.3 National Tree Week

7.3.1 This is a nationwide annual eventfounded by the Tree Council who since1973 organise the annual campaigns.National Tree Week is normallycommemorated in November markingthe beginning of the tree plantingseason. Events focus on the planting oftrees.

7.4 Festivals and Other Events

7.4.1 The celebration of trees can take placein a variety of ways including religiousand arboricultural festivals and localcommunity events. The Jewish festivalof Tu Bishvat, the birthday of the trees,is a day which celebrates tree planting.Trees of Time and Place and Trees forLondon are current initiatives involvinga variety of sponsors with the objectiveof securing the planting of more trees.Festivals celebrating the importance oftrees to the community can involvedemonstrations of how to grow treesfrom seeds, tree planting and care,recycling and so on, which help to raisepeople’s awareness.

18 CELEBRATING TREES & INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY

Planting the Wandsworth Wishing tree,Vermont Road, SW18

8.01 An Action Plan for trees must involve allthose with an interest in the Borough’strees, including individual residents,tree wardens, voluntary amenitygroups, residents’ associations, schools,churches, scout and guide associations,businesses, developers, utilitycompanies, transport operators, centralgovernment and its agencies, Councildepartments, national organisationsand their local branches, and the media.

8.1 Tree Wardens

8.1.1 The Council’s Tree Warden Scheme isopen to anyone with an interest in trees.

8.1.2 Tree Wardens are volunteers who canassist in the care, protection andpromotion of trees in Wandsworth. Theycan assist the Council by reportinginstances of damage, of trees whichneed attention, of where trees could beplanted, and so on. The Council providestraining and information to increasetheir knowledge about trees and relatedtopics, and encourages people to takean active interest in the health and wellbeing of trees in their local area.

8.1.3 They can be of assistance to their localcommunity by informing people, such astheir local residents’ or tenants’association, of the importance of trees,by encouraging others to take aninterest in trees and planting.

8.2 Amenity Groups

8.2.1 In Wandsworth, the British Trust forConservation Volunteers (BTCV),London Wildlife Trust, GroundworkTrust, the Woodcraft Folk, and localamenity societies are involved withtrees. The type of work they undertakeis:

organising and co-ordinating localinitiatives;

joining together with other groups aspartners in action;

carrying out tree planting schemes;

informing and encouragingneighbourhood groups.

8.3 Businesses

8.3.1 The involvement of businesses inplanting, sponsoring and caring fortrees is established and should continueto be encouraged, particularly throughpartnership schemes and within towncentres. Businesses should beencouraged to develop the following:

initiating landscape schemes andplanting trees on street frontageswhere space permits;

sponsoring and helping facilitate treeplanting in town centres and otherparts of the Borough;

caring for and managing existing treeson business premises in accordancewith best practice.

8.4 Schools

8.4.1 Educating people to be aware of thevalue of trees starts at nursery school.A number of initiatives can bedeveloped:

adopting a tree for life;

growing trees from seeds;

joining local groups who are involved incaring for trees;

donating or sponsoring trees forplanting.

BOROUGH TREE STRATEGY 19

section two

8.0 INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY

Involving schoolchildren in caringabout trees.

9.01 The Council as a land owner withresponsibility for around 50% of thetrees in the Borough will take a leadingrole in the continued maintenance andenhancement of the Borough’s trees.The tree strategy provides a guidingframework for action, includingpartnership arrangements to secureexternal funding for tree planting,promotion, and environmentaleducation initiatives. Opportunities tosecure tree planting will be identifiedthrough various existing and futuredelivery programmes.

9.02 Where the Council is not the land owner,it can achieve many of the objectivesset out in the strategy by encouragingother land owners to adopt a bestpractice approach to tree care. It canprotect trees on private land throughTree Preservation Orders, and canencourage private owners to carry outtree planting in connection with theimplementation of development. It canalso join with the local community inevents and festivals celebrating trees.

20 IMPLEMENTATION & ACTIONS

section two

9.0 IMPLEMENTATION

1 to manage the Borough’s tree stock inaccordance with best arboricultural andecological practices (para 5.1);

2 to encourage other public bodies, privateowners and Tenant ManagementOrganisations to adopt best practice inthe maintenance and planting of trees intheir care (paras 5.1 – 5.7);

3 to offer specialist advice to the public ontree matters (paras 5.1 and 6.3.1);

4 to promote awareness of trees throughenvironmental education (para 5.1);

5 to prevent the unnecessary loss of treesand to secure the planting of replacementtrees, where practicable, in order to avoidthe overall depletion of the Borough’streestock (para 5.1, 6.1-6.3);

6 to encourage re-cycling of tree waste(para 5.1.11);

7 to encourage the planting of species oftrees within the Borough which willpromote biodiversity (para 5.1 – 5.7),taking account of the value of differentspecies in different situations (para 2.1 –2.3);

8 to promote tree planting schemes inpartnership with others (para 5.1 – 5.7 and7.1 – 7.4);

9 to produce literature illustrating bestpractice on a range of tree matters, and inparticular landscape design guidance fornew development (paras5.1 & 6.3);

10 to identify suitable opportunities forplanting Yew trees within churchyardswithin the Borough in partnership with theChurch Commissioners and the YewConservation Trust (para 5.6);

11 to improve the appearance of industrialareas through carefully designedlandscape schemes (para 5.7);

12 to make individual Tree PreservationOrders on privately owned trees in orderto safeguard the character andappearance of the Borough (para 6.1);

13 to press the Government for changes tostreamline the procedures for treepreservation (para 6.1.5);

14 to impose conditions on planningapplications requiring applicants toprotect trees on development sites (para6.3.2);

15 to liaise with organisations promotingprojects which celebrate significantevents such as National Tree Week,Veteran Trees, Great Trees of London,Trees for London and other initiatives(paras 7.1 – 7.4);

16 to foster a greater awareness of the valueof trees, their maintenance and theappropriateness of planting among thegeneral public and children in particular(para 8.0);

17 to encourage people to become treewardens (para 8.1);

18 to increase awareness of trees amongschool children through environmentaleducation programmes and to identifyprojects that enable them to becomeactively involved in growing, planting,caring for, and celebrating trees, and toconsider appropriate partners forsponsorship (para 8.4); and

19 to encourage residents and businesses inthe Borough to get involved in plantingand caring for trees (paras 8.2 – 8.5).

BOROUGH TREE STRATEGY 21

section two

10.0 ACTIONS

wandsworth councilborough planner’s service [technical services department]

Tree Strategy (020) 8871 6631/6371

Tree Preservation Orders (020) 8871 6631

Conservation Area Tree Notices (020) 8871 6631

Highway Tree Enforcement (020) 8871 6712

tree section [leisure and amenity services department]

Council-owned trees (020) 8871 6371/6372

Advice on pruning, planting, diseases (020) 8871 6371/6372

Street trees and parks and open spaces (020) 8871 6371/6372

Ecology of trees and woodlands (020) 7223 5831

visit the council’s web site: www.wandsworth.gov.uk

22 CONTACTS & USEFUL NUMBERS

contacts

Other UsefulContactsArboricultural Association,Ampfield House, Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 9PATel. 01794 368717

British Trust for ConservationVolunteers (BTCV),36 St Mary’s Street, Wallingford, Oxfordshire,OX10 0EUTel: 01491 839766

Common Ground,Seven Dials Warehouse, 44 Earlham Street,London WC2H 9LATel: (020) 7379 3109

Countryside Commission,South East Regional Office, 4th Floor, 71Kingsway, London WC2B 6STTel: (020) 7831 3510

English Heritage,Historic Parks & Gardens Division, 23 SavileRow, London W1X 2HETel: (020) 7973 3000

English Nature,Northminster House, Peterborough, PE1 1UATel: 01733 455101

Esso Treewatch,C/o Shropshire Wildlife Trust, 167 Frankwell,Shrewsbury, SY3 8LG

The Forestry Commission,Great Eastern House, Tenison Road, Cambridge,CB1 2DUTel: 01223 314546

Friends of the Earth,26-28 Underwood Street, London NW1 7JQTel: (020) 7490 1555

Garden History Society,Station House, Church Lane, Wickwar, Wooton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, GL12 8NBTel: 01454 294888

Great Trees of London,London Tree Forum, PO Box 15146, LondonWC2B 6SJGroundwork Trust,85-87 Cornwall Street, Birmingham, B3 3BYTel: (0121) 236 8565

Learning Through Landscapes,Third Floor, Southside Offices, The Law Courts,Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9DLTel: 01962 846258

London Tree Officers Association(LTOA),Third Floor, Crowndale Centre218 Evershot Street, London, NW1 1BDTel: (020) 7974 4124email: ltoa@dial.pipex.com

National Urban Forestry Unit,The Science ParkStafford Road, Wolverhampton, WV10 9RTTel: 01902 828600

Royal Society for Protection of Birds,The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2DLTel: 01767 680551

Trees of Time and Place,96 Victoria Street, London SW1E 5JWTel: 0345 078 139

The Tree Council,51 Catherine Place, London SW1E 6DYTel: (020) 7828 9928

Trees for London,Prince Consort Lodge, Kennington Park,Kennington Park Place, London SE11 4ASTel: (020) 7587 1320Email: treesforlondon@aol.com

The Yew Conservation Trust,The Conservation Foundation, Kensington Gate,London SW7 2ARTel: (020) 7823 8842

Woodland Trust,Autumn Park, Dysart Road, Grantham,Lincolnshire, NG31 6LLTel: 01476 581111

BOROUGH TREE STRATEGY 23

24 CONTACTS & USEFUL NUMBERS

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Technical Services DepartmentDepartment of Leisure and Amenity Services