Park trees being mauled by weapon dogs in fight training
Young people are training crazed dogs to fight by goading them into mauling trees in city parks, the Evening News can reveal. Horrified witnesses have reported snarling weapon dogs clawing and biting at bark in Bruntsfield Links. Park users fear a young sycamore tree might be beyond saving after a pit bull stripped it bare in one of the worst attacks. “Damage is caused by dog owners who apparently use tree trunk bark to train their dogs,” said Friends of the Meadows and Bruntsfield Links committee member Neil Roger. “I am told they use attack dogs for fighting for betting….
‘Pest of Zorro’ threatens to cut swathe through UK elm trees
Elm trees already devastated by Dutch elm disease are being ravaged across south and east England by a new alien pest that leaves the ‘ Mark of Zorro ‘ on their leaves. Maps seen by the Telegraph show the Elm Zigzag Sawfly, originally from Japan and named after the Z-shaped holes it eats into leaves, has colonised a 7,000 square mile area of England. The bugs can consume almost the entire foliage of an elm, not only threatening the future of rare and endangered indigenous insects like butterflies that live on elms but also weakening the trees’ ability to resist the twin threats…
Dangerous trees were chopped down after vandals deliberately made them unsafe
The Tele reported in January how a large tree fell onto the road in Finnart Street, just missing nearby houses. Now details of a Tree Hazard Management Report, which was carried out at the site following the incident have emerged. The report, which was carried out by Informed Tree Services on behalf of Inverclyde Council, states that someone had wilfully damaged three trees at the site, leaving the dangerous trees ‘extremely hazardous’ to public safety. The dangerous trees have since been removed and further remedial work is now planned at the wooded area. In relation to the three dangerous trees, the report…
Government looks at abandoning bid to halt rampant tree disease
Officials tasked with stopping a disease that could wipe out a significant proportion of Northern Ireland’s trees are looking at giving up efforts at eradication. Instead, the Department of Agriculture, the Environment and Rural Affairs is considering simply recommending that Northern Ireland try to live with the disease as best as possible. Patrick Cregg, director, Woodland Trust in NI The disease – called ash dieback – first appeared on the island of Ireland in 2012, after ravaging parts of continental Europe for years beforehand. It afflicts all types of ash trees, which the Woodland Trust estimates make up about three-fifths…
Apology ‘after’ HS2 school trees ‘cut’
A council has apologised for not telling villagers “in a timely manner” about the need to cut school trees to make way for HS2. However residents saw two trees being cut down at the site before hearing about permission for the school’s move. Resident Neil Bevan said there had been “no communication”. Midlands Live: Two due in court over National Action claims; Funding bid for A&E expansion Planning permission to move the school was announced on Tuesday but the oak trees were cut down on Monday. Felling trees was “an integral part of the plan” to build the new school…
Medium-height trees survive drought best
Forests with canopy heights of around 18 metres are more resistant to the effects of severe drought than those with shorter and taller trees, according to researchers in China and the US. In the past, studies have disagreed on whether forests with lower or higher canopies will be more likely to make it through prolonged spells of hot, dry weather. The discrepancy has made it difficult for forest managers, who need to know which tree heights to encourage to ensure the highest growth and survival rates during extreme drought. Study leader Peipei Xu at Beijing Normal University in China and her…
SEC encouraging clients to plant their sustainability flag with Trees for Life
The Scottish Event Campus (SEC) has been working with clients to give back to the environment through the charity, Trees for Life via scheme that has seen 170,000 trees donated to the charity. Trees for Life, which celebrates 25 years of charitable status this year, aims to restore the wild forest of the Caledonian Forest, a unique habitat which has suffered from deforestation, but which once stretched from coast to coast. The SEC established a relationship with the charity 11 years ago and has helped encourage tree donations over the years from organisations including Arbonne, World Federation of Hemophilia, Amazon…
Sheffield tree protest council has legal costs of £413k
More than £413,000 has been spent by Sheffield City Council on legal costs proceedings against tree felling protesters, the BBC has learned. Thousands of trees have been cut down under the council’s tree-felling and replacement contract since 2012. Campaigners have staged a series of protests in a bid to stop them being cut down. The council said it is due to get about £70,000 of the money back through reclaiming court costs. Yorkshire breaking news: Blue plaque to change after ‘lesbian’ row; Jet passengers ‘dropped like flies’ The council’s legal costs £413,194.38 were revealed through a Freedom of Information request…
Trees in Kettering street ‘not being maintained properly’
A Kettering councillor says residents are having to stump up extra cash because trees are not being maintained properly. Opposition leader Cllr Mick Scrimshaw (Lab) has raised concerns shared with him by residents in Tennyson Road. He says trees in the street are not being maintained properly and need trimming, causing problems with dead leaves blocking gutters forcing residents to pay for them to be cleared. Cllr Scrimshaw said: “If we are to have trees in residential streets, and I am pleased we do as they do add benefits to the local environment, they need to be maintained properly. “It…
Toro to showcase top of the range products at APF Exhibition
Toro, a global leader in turf and landscape maintenance equipment, has announced that it will be attending this year’s APF Exhibition. With a range of products to showcase, the company will be making its first appearance at the event at Ragley Hall in Alcester. The APF Exhibition is the UK’s largest forestry, woodland, arboriculture, fencing and biomass show that attracts over 22,000 attendees from around the UK, with 90% being trade professionals working in the industry. Situated at stand 1320-1340, the team at Toro will be on hand throughout the event on the 20th – 22nd September, to answer questions…
