Ealing's Trees

As you probably know, the Horse Chestnut trees on Ealing Common are suffering from Bleeding Canker – some have already had to be felled. There is currently no cure for this disease, and it is likely that the other trees on the Common will also be infected and will have to be taken down.

In any case, the trees, planted in the early part of last century, are nearing the end of their natural lives (around 100 years).

The Council is currently consulting on replacement trees. It is not intended to replant with Horse Chestnut because of the risk of infection and also because it is not native (there is a Duty of Care to plant native species and encourage biodiversity). There are four options: mixture of Lime, Sweet Chestnut and London Plane; single species Lime; single species English Oak; single species London Plane.

To read more about the four options and to respond to the consultation online, go to http://www.ealing.gov.uk/press_releases/2007/february_2007/pr924.html The consultation runs till 6 March.

The Common is not the only site in Ealing where trees are suffering. The avenue of Horse Chestnuts across Churchfield Avenue in Hanwell have been attacked by leaf miner moth, fungus and bleeding canker and are being replaced with Oaks and Limes.

And in the recent gales, around 270 of Ealing's park and street trees were lost, including one of the two Cedars of Lebanon behind Pitzhanger Manor (planted in 1790).