Thursday 21 January 2010

The weather was much kinder this afternoon, no wind or rain, no fog or low cloud, just the normal high cloud, with some occasional bright bits thrown in!

I spent the first 20 mins of the afternoon back on the phone to the local council, trying to track down the Tree Presevation Officer, which to my delight I managed to do! I even got as far as getting a date with her ( my natural charm you know) We are to meet next Tuesday afternoon to visit the all properties with mature Oaks in them, to discuss the situation. I then needed to email her with details of the trees that I wanted to protect, and this is the daunting bit - I have to explain why I want them protected, and indeed are they under any threat in the first place, if so from what ? saying that they are good for wildlife is not good enough, I have to find what good are they for the local residents, all very off putting, but ive emailed her with my opinions.

I lost more time walking the lane and counting the number of Oaks trees I wanted preserved, over 70 in all, on 4 properties ( I dont do thing by halves!)

I finally left for a quick walk over to the lake, but only had an hour before dusk fell, not surprisingly I found very little, the high point was seeing the Lake was almost free of ice, only the second time this year! Just 2 MALLARD and a GREY HERON were enjoying the water though.

I really need to get focussed again on my birding, it seems to have 'drifted' somewhat this year, so i'll put more effort in from now. :-)

13 comments:

ShySongbird said...

I don't think your birding has or ever will drift Warren, you love it far too much for that to happen! You have just been temporarily distracted on the birds behalf.

Very, very well done on your persistence with the TPO. I would have thought the benefit to wildlife was a perfectly good reason, especially with so many of our native species of birds, insects etc in severe decline. As for where the threat to the trees comes from, I should have thought that was obvious...the idiots who own the gardens or land where the trees grow!

They must be some jolly big gardens if there are 70 trees between 4 properties! Good luck Warren, I support you all the way, keep us informed.

Greenie said...

Warren ,
I heard you were good at pulling birds !
Nil carborundum illigitimi !

Warren Baker said...

Thanks Songbird.

The gardens are indeed big, some are the size of half a football pitch, and more! the gardens combined are a real habitat for wildlife, and they are already being eroded.

Warren Baker said...

Greenie, I wont!!!

Phil said...

Warren
There's also the "small" matter of global warming to consider. Surely your lady at the TPO would consider that important to the (global) village.
Keep pushing, "out of acorns" and all that.

Warren Baker said...

Phil,
I will mention that when I meet the TPO, i'll also slip in that this year is bio-diveristy year.;-)

Chris said...

Hi Warren,
I'm happy that the weather turned out to be fine for you.. Here we had to go back home at 4PM cause they forecasted a nice storm again and it is here with wind around 35-40m/s!! So I guess we might have some migrants this week end!

alan woodcock said...

we need big mature gardens,many are now being built on,well done.

Pete Woodruff said...

Even more appropriate we all tell you to 'KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK'......'bird's and Oak Tree's.

Regards to you Warren.

Anonymous said...

You managed to make progress then Warren. Good on ya.

Monika said...

Would your documented use of the trees by any rare/declining/protected bird species help?

Over here landowners are often reluctant to let biological survey teams onto their property, because if they find an endangered species, it will severely limit their ability to develop.

Steve said...

Brilliant Warren - goodluck with the TPO. You need to emphasise that the tree has nature conservation records (show her your bird records of the area in general) A TPO is to protect trees for the public's enjoyment. It is made for the 'amenity' of the tree or woodland, and this can include its nature conservation value but more often means its visual amenity. However, it does mean that if a tree is not visible or accessible from a public place - even slightly- a TPO cannot usually be enforced. As Oaks I think you stand a really good chance....especially with your charm!

Forest the Bear said...

Warren,
I did an entry level arboriculture course and my instructors(working tree surgeons)gave us advice concerning TPO's.

As Steve said, if the tree is visable from your home or any public place and adds to the enjoyment of your local area, then you have the right to ask for its protection.

We were advised as contractors, that any member of the public could ask for an investigation by the TPO, on any tree that is being worked on by a contractor. The TPO will then contact the contractor(if works have no approval from the council) and ask them to stop. Hefty fines are in place if the works continue after this point.

If the tree is viable and has a good chance of protection, the contractor must show that the work is needed(has rot,infected or is dangerous).

My course was entry level and things might have changed, so I could be wrong. But good luck with your campaign.

Oaks can support over 200 life forms, very important me thinks!