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In this issue, we celebrate a young climate activist who lives in Leek - Ed Daly.  He not only loves nature but works incessantly to protect and support wildlife.  Before Covid, he was well known for his Leek market stall Ed's Shed, where he sold his own bird feeders, nest boxes and decorations, all out of natural materials and widely popular.  We hope he will be able to return.  In the meantime, here is his article on tree maintenance, a very important issue that's often overlooked in our enthusiasm to get trees into the ground.  Thanks Ed.

3 Ds for Trees

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We all know that we need to plant more trees to help in the battle against climate change. But in my short time doing conservation work, planting is only the first step in getting the tree from sapling to maturity. What we need to focus on is that trees need a maintenance plan. 

The 3 Ds for trees are Dead, Diseased and Damaged. If the tree shows signs of any of the 3Ds, you must do something about it swiftly.   

Identifying a dead tree in the summer is relatively easy as it is likely to be devoid of foliage. For example, Ash dieback, is very common in Ash trees and can be identified by lesions on infected bark so urgent action needs to be taken.

A diseased tree may start to die back from the crown known as 'stag heading' as branches will lose the foliage from the crown of the tree.

A damaged tree may be difficult to spot when in full leaf, especially if the tree is covered in ivy as this can mask any damage. This is why foresters are not keen on ivy. It masks damage to the tree and makes calculating the volume of timber in a tree difficult. If the bark on a tree becomes damaged,it can expose it to diseases and to the elements.     

What action should be taken if branches on a tree appear to be dead, diseased or damaged?   

If your tree has a dead, damaged or diseased limb, it is possible to remove these by yourself using loppers or a bow saw depending on the size of the limb and, if it's within easy reach, always wear the appropriate PPE and work within your capabilities. If in doubt, contact a professional, as tree work can be dangerous and if carried out inappropriately it can cause more damage to the tree.

Edward Daly