A GROUP of tree experts has released a report on the health of 60 trees planted a decade ago in the borough.
Part of the Diamond Jubilee Trees project, they were introduced to celebrate the late Queen’s long reign.
The report carried out by Wokingham District Veteran Trees Association (WDVTA) offers an optimistic picture of how the standard English oaks are doing.
Members of the group planted 60 standard English oaks across the borough in the joint project with Wokingham Borough Council, during 2012 and 2013.
WDVTA Jubilee Trees Co-ordinator Barbara Stagles, summed up the report.
“We have been very pleased to find that of the trees planted, 56 are still alive, with most in a very good condition,” she said.
“Four were lost for different reasons, but in 2023 their substitutes were all thriving.
“We have noted some changes to the planting sites over the decade, and are encouraged to see that, in at least four sites, more tree planting has taken place, considerably increasing overall the number of new trees the project has initiated.”
The group says it owes much of the success of the Jubilee Trees project to Oliver Ward and his colleagues at Heartwood Tree Surgery, who maintained and watered the saplings for five years to prevent them dying due to drought or lack of care.
They are also grateful to WDVTA members for keeping an eye on the trees and reporting any problems during the past 10 years.
Local ecologist and tree expert Martin Woolner has also been supportive of the project, and says that quercus robur, or common oak, may be subject to various issues but that it is a survivor.
He does, however, highlight potential damage to trees from close mowing up to the bark.
“Martin recommends that trees should be left unapproached for the first few decades, allowing vegetation to occupy the space around the tree as a protection,” continued Ms Stagles.
When planted, the trees were given plaques, many of which have since rotted.
WDVTA members Stephanie and Andrew McKay are installing new bases, for which the group expresses thanks, and new labels will also be created to replace any missing ones.
The association works to ensure that Wokingham’s veteran and other significant trees are properly identified, protected and managed.
It also hopes to increase public awareness of the beauty of trees, and the contribution they make to the town’s heritage and amenity.
Since 2007 it has been surveying, recording and photographing veteran trees in the borough, and has accumulated more than 8000 trees on a database, which can be viewed on the WDVTA website.
For more information, visit: www.wdvta.org.uk
