Street Trees

The interim results for the street tree survey were presented during the September 16th free online training session. The recorded session is now available as a video here. For those who missed it, or those who would like a refresher.

The general overview of this survey is to asses the crown dieback, overall condition, and potential damage of street trees, old and newly planted. This will determine we can proceed with planting new species suitable for the warming climate. We will do this by increasing canopy cover in priority wards around Birmingham, and improving the upkeep of our street trees. Based on an American model, TreePlotter analysis is used to record the findings.

Interim Results

Our interim results, despite 69.5% of the surveyed trees being in good condition, were 7.4% poor and 2.5% dead. Additionally, only 18.2% were fair. This means there will be many solutions to raise the percentage of good and fair condition trees. Most of the trees have date and time reference for planting; we can track the timing of the damage.

Noticeably, forest trees like beeches are favoured, and trees from predominantly the rose family, like cherries. The problem is, these are susceptible to bacterial canker. Additionally, liquidambars appear frequently, although not native, and are thriving on our roads due to heat islands.

Root problems, loose trees, soil size, staking, vandalism, species selection, and low to no mulching (87.7%!) are all contributing factors to the failure of the trees in certain locations. Our model is based on a US study, finding that most of the trees died in poorer areas of the cities.

That’s why BTP are working on ‘red wards‘ or priority wards. These are areas that suffer from low income, and therefore low tree equity.

Additional Information

Training sessions take place online, on the third Saturday of the month from 10am-12pm. Reminders circulate by using the mailing list for volunteers.To join or try one of our regular free training sessions, please contact us or email us at: [email protected]

Report broken trees to Kier, or vandalised trees to the Council or local police.

Simon Needle, Principal Arboriculturalist for Birmingham City Council and Chair of the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trusts, talks to BTP Chair Tonia Clark about the pests and diseases common in trees at the moment. There's also a short piece on the rowan tree.

David, Liz, Rhiannon and Cath are on the management committee for the Highbury Orchard Community in Moseley, next to Highbury Park. Tonia Clark from Birmingham TreePeople talks to them about the orchard and how they involve local people in the seasonal orchard tasks. Henbury's Apple Trees are ancient apples with small fruit and bright red flowers.

Steve Watson recalls his personal journey into the tree world.

Jim Smith, National Urban Forestry Advisor to the Forestry Commission, talks to Tonia Clark from Birmingham TreePeople about urban forests and the work of the FC. There's also a short piece on the beech tree.

Debbie Needle from Birmingham Trees for Life talks to Tonia Clark, from Birmingham TreePeople, about community tree planting. There's also a short piece about the hawthorn, that is covered in white flowers in May.

These are pointed nail galls on a lime leaf, caused by a tiny mite. Photo from this website.

Liam Crowley talks to BTP about the impact of insects on trees and woodlands.

He is an entomologist at University of Birmingham and University of Oxford, specialising in this kind of insect study, in relation to trees (also see the pests and diseases podcast).

There's also a short piece on the lime.

Ian McDermott, arboriculturalist, lecturer and trainer for BTP, talks to Chair Tonia Clark about tree identification: how to identify trees. There's also a short piece on the yew tree, steeped in mystery and myth.

Professor Rob MacKenzie, head of the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFOR) at The University of Birmingham, talks to BTP Chair Tonia Clark, about its pioneering research into climate change and woodlands. There's also a short piece on the horse chestnut, with its impressive flower spikes.

Tonia Clark, from Birmingham TreePeople, interviews Eleanor Hoad, Forest School teacher, Urban Forest Volunteer and community gardener, about the health benefits of trees and a short piece on the birch tree, as they are a pioneer species, often found in heather moorlands.