Residents' Association Forum

There are currently Planning Applications ( 2012/4391 & 4506) from two residents in Ashley Road to remove trees. Thankfully these are two of just eleven separate applications for the removal of fourteen trees trees across the Conservation Area between January and December 2012.......but I wonder how many trees in total have been removed from across the Thames Ditton and Weston Green areas?.

My concern is that it appears that not quite so many trees have been planted in the past year and whether this might reflect a pattern of general decline in numbers across the wider TD & WG areas?

It's great to see the Holm Oak planted in the grounds of TD Infants School, but are there other opportunities to sustain the distinguishing characteristic of the landscape in which our houses and businesses sit ?

If you look at old postcards/photo's of Giggs Hill Green, you will see that it used to be virtually tree free (except for the trees along the Portsmouth Road), whereas now, there are trees all round the perimeter.  Similarly, I believe that Weston Green and Ditton Common are a lot more heavily wooded now than in the days when they were foraged for firewood.  I wouldn't be too concerned about these applications, as one only sees one side of the picture - you don't have to submit any applications in order to plant a tree.  TD and WG are still very verdant, and I don't see that changing any time soon.....

Some of those trees were planted by the RA, particularly after the storm of '88.

Shirley Davenport is trying to get Surrey to plant one opposite the off-licence in Thorkhill Road.

When we trudged round the TD conservation areas during the reappraisal, a salient point was the importance of mature trees especially at some significant viewpoints and especially in view of the overall flat landscape.

When we considered marking the Jubilee with a tree, one problem was "where exactly to put it"...  so it would be good if tree proposals were accompanied by a specific suggestion for the site.

Indeed, but some of them were in place earlier than that!  My neighbour informs me that she helped raise money for some of the trees on Giggs Hill Green as part of the 'Plant a Tree in '73' campaign!

This is an old photo of Summer Road looking down towards the Swan.

[img width=500 height=305]http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/ff485/TDRatty/SummerRoad002_zpsf1e54dff.jpg[/img]

looks in much better order than now,.... and bump free, car-free.  How cars and signs do spoil the view through my camera these days!

Signs -  I totally agree with.

Some cars though would enhance the view through your camera (as oppose to spoil it!) - may I present exhibit A in support of my case?

[img width=500 height=375]http://gallery.seloc.org/albums/userpics/43126/photo_3~2.JPG[/img]

Honda Accord, gorgeous ;)

That does it.  On the new "Leafy Plaza" planned for the heart of down-town Thames Ditton outside the old AC Cars factory we need an AC Fivet mounted on a pretty block of concrete.  Nothing else will do. :)

This is a seriously good suggestion.

Even though these comments are sort of "tongue in cheek"  the suggestion of the car on the plinth would not only reflect the working history of Thames Ditton but would actually be something that people might visit the village to come and see.  Thus bringing people into our businesses.  Who would have thought that  "falling down telephone boxes"  would put Kingston on the cultural map?

I see that the large Sycamore on the green at the foot of Queens Road was having further crown-reduction work to the sides, last week.

This magnificent tree, (which even considering the crown-reduction work done by the same contractor last year), must be one of the largest across the TD & WG areas, offers an almost theatrical sense of scale compared with the terraced houses adjacent to it, and it's remarkable, and thankful that it survived the 1987 storms !

The contractors doing the work were friendly and happy to explain who at Elmbridge their instruction has come from and what they are doing, (although it is a bit of a mystery as to why the full crown-reduction wasn't done in one hit) and the work they have completed looks good and has been carried out with sensitivity to the growing pattern and overall canopy shape of this species .  

However, I suspect that like me, the noise of a chain-saw 'sets alarm-bells ringing' in some peoples heads, (although I have heard it is 'sweet music' to others) and in this instance my concern was aroused by the fact that the company undertaking the work  had no corporate livery on their vehicles. Actually, my confidence is further undermined by the fact that neither on the Elmbridge Tree Work Contractors list at 
http://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/planning/trees/contractors.htm[/url] nor on the list of Arboricultural Consultants at [url]http://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/planning/trees/arbconsult.htm[/url] can I find the business (who also have no email or website described on their business card), but then perhaps that just an oversight......(sorry guys)

Similarly on the Arboricultural Association (the professional body for Tree Consultants and Contractors) website at [url]http://www.trees.org.uk/about-cvus/overview[/url] there's a Directory of (Qualified) Tree Surgeons at [url]http://www.trees.org.uk/aa/contractors/South-East-South-London.html[/url], but the business aren't listed there.

Thankfully,  there is a great list of 'Qualifications and Other Initials' to help validate the contractors and consultants operating around here at [url]http://www.trees.org.uk/find-a-professional/Qualifications-and-other-initials

Now I'm not against people operating on the basis of experience (you know, some qualifications and some professional bodies.....), but I do believe that if you are operating in the public realm then you have to expect to be more accountable (and distinguishable from the everyday 'white van man') and that the many people interested in trees might like to know that the work is being carried out responsibly. My concern is that 'holes'  in communication undermine standards of practice in ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT and that if this is seen to be acceptable in the public realm, then how can we guard against all the 'cowboys' touting for work (and leaving some of those awful 'hatchet jobs' across the TD & WG area), and expect the private landowners to hit an appropriate benchmark and carry out tree-work to an appropriate standard on their land too.

.....perhaps it's better to go straight to Elmbridge on this one and get more advice about how we avoid a 'Thames Ditton Chainsaw Massacre' ! 

After all it's not the that the systems to avoid this kind of thing don't exist, just......

And another one bites the sawdust - despite last minute protest by wildlife!

Family of ducks halt controversial felling of treee on Queen's Drive (http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/family-ducks-halt-controversial-tree-7262655)