Archive reports of Tree Musketeers' events in 2011 (latest event first)

Third planting day on Hackney Downs, 11th December 2011 Tree Musketeers planted seven conifer trees on Hackney Downs, south of the Children’s’ Garden.

Planted were: One Douglas Fir Pseudotsuga menziesii One Himalayan Pine Cedrus deodar One Caucasian Fir Abies nordmanniana One European Larch Larix decidua One Maritime Pine Pinus pinaster Two Scotch Pines Pinus sylvestris; one of these was planted near the central circle on the eastern side in the arboretum.

The Paulownia planted last year was shifted two metres north as it was too close to the Black Walnut. The roots needed cutting and were quite tough.

Thanks to Fi, Shelagh, Shelia, Stephanie, Nina, Andy, Mike, Russell, Bay, Eugene.

This now completes the Tree Musketeers' planting on Hackney Downs for this season, apart from perhaps a small birch. In all we planted 22 trees. Many of these were grown from seed at the Tree Nursery. This has been our eighth year in a row to plant on Hackney Downs.

We want to thank Hackney Council Staff, in particular Darrell for his help in logistical transport often at short notice, and to Mark White for getting the tree guards and posts delivered.

Second planting day on Hackney Downs, 27th November 2011 On day two, trees planted were: One Large-leafed Thorn Crateagus pinnatifida and One Broad-leafed Thorn Crateagus persimilis, both planted just south of the central circle in area where there are three thorns (one mature). One Californian Live Oak Quercus agrifolia, an evergreen, holly-like tree in the arboretum planted north of the central circle along Poplar Path. Two Rowan Sorbus aucuparia in south-east area (to replace a dead Rowan). One Horse Chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum and One Yellow Buckeye Aesculus flava, both planted in north-east area where there are several semi-mature Horse Chestnut trees.

All these trees have been grown-on from the Tree Nursery and several from seed.

It was a sunny day with lots of keen volunteers. Present were: Stewart, Pauline, Erika, Ita, Tony P, Fi, Sheila, Shelagh, Bay, Russell, Eugene, Chris, Samantha, Ita, Paul and Laura, Jo, Stephanie, Mike, Jess. Planting on Hackney Downs, 12th November 2011 Tree Musketeers planted seven trees on Hackney Downs today. This was the first of three days to plant this year’s trees.

The trees planted were: Two Large-leaf Hawthorn Crateagus pinnatifida and Two Broad-leafed Cockspur Thorn Crateagus persimilis, in the avenue on the south side of the MUGA. One Common Ash Fraxinus excelsior at the east end of avenue to correspond with a semi- mature ash growing at the west end. One Common Walnut Juglans regia planted in space east of new central building. One Hornbeam Carpinus betulus planted close to the group of five growing hornbeams planted in the last two years on the north side of the MUGA and tarred playing area.

All trees are guarded and mulched.

This enjoyable morning was made possible by volunteers: Bay, Tony P, Shelagh, Sheila, Dianna, Sean, Stephanie, Anna and her child Lila, Sue, Russell, Chris, Karen, Mike and Eugene.

Mulching Springfield Park orchard, 8th October 2011 Tree Musketeers rode several barrows to the orchard on this cloudy but calm – even balmy – morning. All orchard trees were weeded and mulched with good, well-rotted leaf-mould. All trees appear well. There were many medlars on the medlar tree and even a few hard olives on the olive tree (not the medlar)!

It would be good to get some horse manure on the trees.

Volunteers were Stephanie, Sheila, Bay and Eugene. Thanks.

Tree Musketeers' action day in Springfield Park Orchard, Sunday 8th October 2011 Tree Musketeers rode several barrows to the orchard on this cloudy but calm - even balmy - morning. All orchard trees were weeded and mulched with good well-rotted leafmould. All the trees appear well. Many medlars were on the medlar tree and even a few hard olives on the olive tree (not the medlar!).

It would be good to get some horse manure on the trees.

Thanks to volunteers Stephanie, Sheila, Bay and Eugene.

Tree Musketeers' action day on Hackney Downs, Sunday 18th September 2011 Tree Musketeers sprang towards the orchard again on this sunny and bright late summer day. After appreciating the adjacent wildflower patch, we got into action by opening the guards and weeding around all the orchard trees. They were then mulched with tireless (or getting-tired) musketeers, wheeling woodchip from the central circle to the orchard.

A small child with his parents took great interest in out manoeuvres and picked an apple which he enjoyed.

There is some fruit on some of the trees and we had a mini tasting session. Good taste. We were joined and thanks to: Mike, Shelagh, Russell, Colin, Tony P, Pete, Sheila, Nina, and little Barrish, his parents and Eugene. Report on tree action day at Springhill Orchard, Saturday 13th August 2011 Tree Musketeers weeded and then mulched the orchard amidst the hot sun and strong weeds. However, when deep enough into the tree surround, it was relatively easy to remove the bigger weed growth as there is still a sound mulch bed from last time we mulched. The trees are doing well - perhaps better in leaf growth than fruit production. Mike weeded several of the larger orchard trees on the south side.Well done to Sheila, Russell, Dianna, Mike, Jess (allotment) and Eugene.

Tree action day on Daubney Green Orchard, Sunday 24th July 2011 Tree Musketeers worked tiresely in weeding the orchard. The wicked weeds made us work hard. Several guards needed adjusting. The trees appear to be growing well...

Thanks to: Alana, Russell, Stephanie, Dianna, Chris and others.

Tree Musketeers' Action Day on Hackney Downs, Sat June 11th 2011 Volunteers were out on the Hackney Downs to water and mulch trees. We gave the transplanted semi-mature Oak about 300 litres of water; it continues to do well following its trauma last year.

All the young trees planted last winter got a good mulch: the four Scots Pines at the centre the Maritime Pine near the centre the Foxglove tree the Red Buckeye the True Service the Native Black Poplar the Koelreuteria three Giant (but still wee) Sequoias and the little Stone Pine all alone on the other side of the Downs. The multi-stemmed Rowan looked dead but had good green colour under its bark, so there is hope it will recover.

Several trees needed their tree ties adjusted - an indication of the amount of growth they have put on in response to being well cared for.

Thanks to: Ita, Shelagh, Russell, Pete and Eugene.

Tree action day in Springfield Park, 29th May 2011 Tree Musketeers were in action in the park where we watered several smaller trees. These were: two beeches at the top corner where one shows signs of a bark canker; dying or dead branches were removed. The other larger beech was also watered on the main lawn, so too was Mustafa's Turkish hazel. Gerald Laufer's walnut, the hornbeam and Raywood ash, the oak on Lea Valley behind the rowers' café, two small poplars along Spring Lane and three small apple trees in the orchard all were watered.

Then all the smaller trees along Spring Lane were weeded and some adjustments made to the guards where needed. All appear to be thriving well. Great to see the cork oak and Hungarian oak both planted ten years ago and doing so well.

A small apple tree in Springhill orchard has fallen. Maybe it split on the graft. The fallen tree had fruit. It’s very sad. The small pear that was decapitated last winter has been re-guarded and it is growing again.

Thanks to: Sheila and Shelagh, Bay, Mike, Russell, Amy, Colin, Chris, Stephanie, Annie and Eugene. Tree action on Hackney Downs, 4th May 2011 Tree Musketeer Eugene watered the two very stressed trees again, giving the Rowan 40 litres and the Liquidamber 40 litres. (The Liquidamber is strictly speaking a street tree, and he advised LB Hackney's Streetscene, who are responsible for street trees.)

The wonderful Wild Service tree, planted in 2003, is in full bloom and got 10 litres, and the Hungarian Oak, planted by the Council, received 10 litres.

Tree action on Hackney Downs, 2nd May 2011 Tree Musketeer Tony P watered two very stressed trees on the south-east corner of Hackney Downs: a Liqui- damber and a Rowan planted in 2003. He also watered some of the small, newly-planted trees.

Tree action on Hackney Downs, 24th April 2011 Tree Musketeers watered all the trees planted last winter.

The moved Oak got a good soak, and the other moved tree (not to forget) the Black Walnut got 80 litres. It looks well.

The six London Planes got about 20 litres each, and the struggling one in the avenue along Downs Park Road got 30 litres. The Planes as usual appear slow to get going. Two London Planes in the Queensdown Road avenue, planted about about 10 years ago, got 10 litres, and two Elms (the Council planted one and the TMs planted the other) got 20 litres each.

Joy as usual in the nurturing of life. In that we were joined by Ita (welcome to her), Paul (his first, welcome to him as well), Mike, Sheila and Eugene. Our muscles are tighter now after pushing and pulling the trollleys!

Tree Musketeers early watering begins, Hackney Downs, 10th April 2011 Tree Musketeers were out on this Sunday evening to begin watering all the recently planted trees on the Downs – and we did just that plus a few more. The ground was dry, as there had been no rain for days.

All the 14 trees planted got a good soak. We prioritised the five Hornbeams planted in the last two years, as they are vulnerable and on a high spot so get a lot of wind. The shifted Oak got a good soak and it is coming well into leaf. The London Plane by Downs Park Road got a soak of 30 litres; it has some small leaves, but thay are a bit scarce. It was fun and exhilirating, with a game of ball afterwards!

We were joined by Sarah with a handful of children who watered the five Hornbeams in record time with speed and spirit. Thanks to them and to Mike, Tony P, Alana, Pauline, her friend Jackie, David R, Russell and Eugene.

Tree care on Hackney Downs, Sunday 20th February 2011 Tree Musketeers were out in force in the mild, grey weather that you don’t notice when your hand is in the soil. We weeded and mulched the moved oak. Extensive weeding was carried out at the base of the tree and grass dug around the edges to minimise grass from covering the base. Bugs and insects kept us amused in the process. We then mulched the tree well and re-guarded it with the chestnut paling. This was done by a team of ten and took at least one-and-a-half hours.

We then moved to the wildlife area and cleared rubbish first. Then bhuddlea and some sycamore were removed and the area cleared of some bramble. All birch trees and smaller trees are growing well, with the alder and hazel well in flower. Hard work but well worth it.

Thanks to Bay, Shelagh, Dianna, Stephanie, Russell, Jaroh, Baya, Noah, Tony, Sheila and Eugene. Coppicing and pruning in Spring Hill Orchard. 5th February 2011 The Tree Musketeers went into action at 10am, when we commenced pruning the orchard. We started with Annie giving a display, and then everyone had the opportunity to practice. Soon all the trees were pruned, with the hope of good fruit later! Chris got his step ladder so we could prune high up on Chris’ favourite tree there. Most small trees needed some formative pruning. All trees appear in good health. The recently-vandalised pear tree has been tidied by Mike and need re-guarding. Some trees need some tree-tie work.

We then commenced the second half of the day that was coppicing some of the adjacent willows. We coppiced a large Goat Willow and, to near ground-level, coppiced smaller willows closer to the fruit trees. It leaves more clearing for the orchard, but still maintains the cover for birds. Martin’s strength was useful in felling some of the larger branches and main stem, as well as everybody’s hard work that created a joyful atmosphere.

We made three bundles of cut small branches for wildlife, and Eugene will put some compost cover on them. Larger branches were left underneath the hedge to stimulate bugs to enhance biodiversity. Eugene can use some straight sticks for the allotment. We were then tired. Of course, before we began, we cleared rubbish from the site that unfortunately gathers.

Thanks to Annie for the teaching, and to Chris for keeping a watchful eye on this orchard and ensuring it is attended to. And thanks to Martin (new volunteer with TMs) Suzy, Sheila, Shelagh, and Eugene.

Tree planting on Hackney Downs, January 8th 2011 The Tree Musketeers completed a tree planting programme on the Downs for this season that was the second part of a two-day plan (see also below). The sun came out and it remained dry but was getting cold by the time all near-twenty of us were around the beautiful little Stone Pine Pinus pinea – the last tree we planted on the day.

We planted a Scotch Pine Pinus sylvestris as a fourth in a group just east of the central circle to make a diamond shape of four scotch pines.

In the developing arboretum just north of the central circle we planted a True Service Tree Sorbus domestica. This is the first of its species on the Downs and was grown from seed by volunteers in the Tree Nursery. Sean, a new volunteer, broke the ground for this tree and took a central place in planting it... Sean’s tree.

We planted a Pride of India tree Koelreuteria paniculata (also grown at the Tree Nursery) in the same area, which completed four new trees of varying species in that area.

A Maritime Pine Pinus pinaster was planted the near the central circle on the west side of the path from the other four above. This tree was grown from seed about seven years ago and grew up in Dalston, moving to the Tree Nursery about four years ago...! In the central area there are now five newly-planted evergreen trees, giving the area a richer, greener atmosphere.

We then carried and wheel-barrowed two Giant Sequoia trees Sequoiadendron giganteum and planted them opposite the path from the Sequoia planted in December. The three children present (aged between about 5 and 9) were active in digging; looking at worms and caterpillars and wondering how good a caterpillar might be as a pet; and getting into the tree cages, clearly identifying with the trees...! It was fun. Brannagh was central in digging the hole and engaged in the joy of planting a tree. Kiera had great energy in getting into the soil with a child’s-sized spade. Terence ‘took charge’ of the tree guards! Therefore, in the south west area, we have a triangular arrangment of three Giant Sequoias – all of them having been grown-on in the Tree Nursery for the last five or so years.

We were by now 16 adults and three children, and to complete the morning's planting, we all went east to plant a Stone Pine Pinus pinea. This is again a new species introduced to the Downs, and planted with Ian Graham’s advice on a sheltered place. Nick, a new volunteer, planted his first tree as a TM volunteer. All the trees were guarded to protect them from dog damage – this continues to be a problem. The conifers needed two guards with their bigger girth. All the guards and stakes were paid for by the Tree Musketeers. Without guards, unfortunately, it is unlikely that any of them would survive. There was enough mulch for about four trees, so more mulch will be required for the remainder. It was then time for Pogos cafe!

Thanks to Ian Graham and Steve Mayhew (Hackney Tree Unit) for their support and guidance in planning this programme and support for transportation of the trees from the Tree Nursery. Thanks to volunteers: Mike, Tony, Dianna, Sheila, Zelfjka, James, Francheska with her three children, Sean, Alana, Nick, Bay, Sarah, Annie, Eugene, Gülay, Russell. New volunteers today were: Sean, James, Nick and Zelfjka – welcome to them.

New Years Day tree walk in Abney Park Cemetery, 2011 Russell Miller led a tree walk through the Cemetery with an even larger than usual group of about 90 people.

The theme was on the value of the veteran trees. These are trees that have a special value for the biodiversity of the area. Grant funding has been provided for their care and protection, and for producing interpretation signage and a leaflet about them.