Agenda item

Presentation from the Director of Open Spaces.

Members received a presentation from the Director of Open Spaces relative to tree diseases. The following points were noted:

·        There is considerable variation in the makeup of the tree population across Open Spaces, with the urban parks such as City Gardens and West Ham Park containing relatively more London plane and less ash and oak trees than the rural open spaces including of Epping Forest, Hampstead Heath, City Commons and Burnham Beeches.

·        Massaria, which attacks London plane trees, is likely to have a costly impact on our sites: for example £80,000 had been spent inspecting trees in the City. Of 1,200 London plane trees inspected at West Ham Park, to date, only one was affected by Massaria. Treatment involves removing diseased limbs. At Queens Park 6 of 80 trees had been attacked. The disease was first identified in these areas in June 2012. Staff will inspect trees in the City three times a year, but it was too early to estimate a financial cost of the disease. City Commons and Hampstead Heath were on high alert for Massaria. £19,000 had been spent removing limbs attacked by Massaria in the southern areas of Epping Forest.

·        Oak Processionary Moth (OPM): Although not yet identified in any of our Open spaces, it is likely that this disease may affect Highgate Wood, City Commons and Hampstead Heath due to the high number of oak trees present here.

·        Ash Dieback: This was currently of less concern for Open Spaces although the long-term implications will see the loss of many trees. Any tree with Ash Dieback would only be felled if it was deemed dangerous.

·        Horse Chestnut Leaf Miner: Epping Forrest and Queens Park were losing a few trees each year to this disease. 

Action would be taken locally to address key issues including:

o   a Risk Assessment review would be undertaken by the department to ensure resources are being effectively used and lessons learnt from current records. The need for a consistent policy across the department was highlighted.

o   The introduction of increased biosecurity would be considered, including tree purchases and how staff and contractors work on site, The public would be informed about how they can also help.

o   The impact of mildew on oak regeneration is not well understood and requires research.

An information report on the impact of tree diseases on trees in the Open Spaces is being prepared for circulation to all Members of the Court of Common Council.

Regional Action: The Director was working closely with the Forestry Commission and asked Members to consider hosting a Forestry Commission Conference early next year. The Director is chairing OPM Advisory Group meetings working to produce an OPM action plan. It was also suggested that the City of London should consider funding the training of volunteers to help identify these diseases in trees.

The Director was than asked by the Chairman to brief Members following her visit to Berlin, she highlighted the following:

·        The Tiergarten, the central park in Berlin, did not currently have a Park Manager and the Director advised this would help by having a single person able to take responsibility for the park.

·        Volunteers were not used in the Tiergarten, although it was apparent that local people wanted to volunteer. The Director hoped to work with the Berlin Senate to encourage volunteering.

Members welcomed the work undertaken by Officers, and agreed that hosting the Forestry Commission Conference would help create a more focused approach going forward. In response to a Member’s query, the Director advised the Committee that biosecurity should be used to help visitors understand more about the impact of diseases and thus take appropriate actions whilst visiting the open spaces, rather than deterring visitors.

RECEIVED.