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TREE ON THE GREEN
Joyce Harrison was a five year old schoolgirl when the horse chestnut tree was planted on the green to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of George V in 1935. Ever since it has served as one of the village’s most treasured landmarks. Unfortunately, however, trees do not always last as long as some of our older residents and over the past couple of years it has begun to look a bit poorly. The Parish Council has twice removed dead wood and is trying to extend the life of the tree by having its roots aerated – a fairly inexpensive process designed to increase the uptake of oxygen - but even so the tree surgeons who have visited have suggested that another 15 years might just about be its ticket.
Next year’s celebrations for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee provide the ideal excuse - and the funding. The concept is to buy as large a new tree as is practicable so that as the current tree declines the new one takes over. Once the current tree reaches a terminal state of decline, sadly, for safety reasons it will have to be removed - but its wood could provide mementos for villagers - and revenue for the village? At January's Parish Council meeting it was decided to go with a Red Chestnut which will be planted in October 2012. Due to concerns regarding the potential for disease, following advice from the world-renowned Barcham Trees, this decision was changed to a Sweet Chestnut (Castanea Sativa) at the Parish Council's March meeting. The village is grateful to Within Reach magazine who are funding this initiative.
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The Parish Council believes that we should plant another tree now, so that by the time it finally pops its clogs we will have a semi-mature tree on the Fair Green (see map for planting location) to take its place.