How
Much is a Tree Worth? £750 000?
A tree growing in Mayfair, London has been valued at £750 000. This
particular specimen is a London plane tree that was planted in 1794 and
just happens to have an exclusive address. A tree pricing system has
been running now for three years, as trial scheme, and aims to help
planners decide on possible schemes that request the removal of these
fabulous landscape features.
Most trees above a particular size are automatically given protection
and their removal requires authorisation. This new system takes into
account the plant’s initial cost, its health, life expectancy and
amenity value.
My own two 100 year old walnut trees, and 150 year old oak tree, are
most valued inhabitants of the garden are hopefully have many years of
life ahead of them. Their value? Priceless!
Buckingham Palace Gardens
HM The Queen will be opening the gardens of her official London home
during April, May and June 2009. Tickets are £20, including talk, tour
and refreshments. Perhaps the UK’s credit crunch is having its effect
there too!
Phone UK – 00 44 20 7766 7333. Booking well in advance will be
essential.
RHS Show during 2009
If you are planning to visit the UK this year, and are a keen gardener,
then adjusting your schedule to fit in a flower show would be sensible.
Cardiff, 17th – 19th April.
Chelsea, 19th – 23rd May.
Hampton Court, 7th – 12th July.
Manchester area - Tatton Park, 22nd – 26th July.
There are other (non-RHS)
shows, for example smaller ones at Shrewsbury and Southport. Bigger ones
include:
Malvern Show, 7th – 10th May.
Birmingham (BBC Gardener’s World Live), 10th – 14th June.
Chelsea requires a
pre-booked ticket (www.rhs.org.uk/flowershows). No tickets available on
the day. Other shows are easier to gain admission.
All these events are
spectacular, with Chelsea being a very (very) crowded pick of the crop.
Not to be missed once in a lifetime.
Unpredictable
Weather
Whilst you have been basking in summer we Brits have been freezing up
here. It’s not that we mind – the sharp, bright mornings with hoarfrost
coating the plants is quite delicious in its own way – but the years are
just not as predictable anymore. Mild winters, harsh winters – we no
longer know what to expect. Last year the ski scene in Scotland was on
its knees, this year there is bumper snow. One summer it is as dry as a
bone, the next we suffer dreadful floods. But we should always look on
‘the bright side’ and our new gardening year is now taking off, and that
gives grounds for much pleasant optimism. During the crisp weather I did
manage to clear some excess herbaceous vegetation from the flower beds,
ensuring that any seed-laden stalks were left for the wildlife, and
added to the compost. The bulbs are pushing their way through the soil
and the very earliest of the garden daffodils are already in bloom and
snowdrops gracing our lawn. [Our own, wild-type, daffodils flower in
March.
Potato Day
A small local town, Whitchurch, held its annual ‘Potato Day’ at the end
of January. The event is always a huge success, and this year probably
exceeded all expectations for vegetable growing is on the up. Many
people consider that digging for victory, as in World War Two, is again
important.
Many of the potatoes in question are old varieties, that are not usually
available commercially, and what is more you can even buy them ‘by the
tuber’ – so it is possible to grow many more types than otherwise would
be the case. Alongside the spuds a whole range of other seeds, plants
and accessories are offered for sale. Now if any of you guys are looking
for a way to raise funds - you now have another possible answer.
Good gardening.
David
david@forest-edge.co.uk
© David Beeson
|
Forest Edge offers B&B in four en-suite, double rooms. Indeed
Forest Edge is much more like a small, private hotel than a
typical B&B.
www.forest-edge.co.uk |
Feedback always welcome:
david@forest-edge.co.uk
Illustrations from top to bottom:
1:
How much is this tree worth?
2:
The lawn is at Montecute House. A National Trust property about an hour
westward from Forrest Edge.
3: Wild carrot seed head in the Forrest Edge meadow
4: Frosted Forrest Edge plants on our patio
