National Tree Week Supported By Council

Published on 25 November 2005

To co-incide with National Tree Week, a young oak was planted in Bracken Drive, Chigwell on Thursday (24 November) by Councillor Brian Sandler, Chairman of Epping Forest District Council. He was accompanied by Councillor John Knapman, Leader of the Council and Grounds Maintenance staff Ray Wood and Bob Griffiths. The Oak is one of about 120 trees planted by the Council’s Leisure Service annually in highway verges and local housing estates. It replaced a mature oak estimated to be around 200 years old that had developed a fungal infection and needed to be felled before it became hazardous.

Councillor Knapman and Councillor Sandler were delighted to meet Leisure staff and be involved in the tree planting. Councillor Sandler said: “Mature trees are one of our district’s finest features. We are blessed with roads and housing estates where trees grew long before the current houses were built. They add a tremendous amount to our environment and although they can live for several hundred years they do eventually need to be replaced.”

Councillor Sandler added: “Many of our best trees are a legacy from the Victorians. We have a duty to future generations to ensure we maintain and enhance that legacy for the future.”

Link to National Tree Week Press Release dated 15 November 2005