Help keep our trees alive

Please help us keep our new trees watered this summer by reusing your waste water such as dishwater, especially when it’s very hot and dry.

The council has a watering programme but is supporting a national campaign promoted by the Woodland Trust and Aboricultural Association to encourage local people to help keep trees hydrated in high temperatures.

Cllr Steve Jarvis, Executive Member for Environment & Leisure, said: “New and young trees around the district will really appreciate any additional water they can get to become established and thrive.

“Unfortunately we lost around 100 trees due to last year’s heatwave. In February we replanted them and they have a programme of maintenance including irrigation, but any additional watering will increase their chances of survival.” 

So, if you have a young tree or trees outside your house or business – usually with a wooden stake and tree guard – or some that you pass on a regular walk for instance, please do what you can. Here are some tips:

• Where possible, use harvested rainwater but water which has been used for washing up or in the bath is also fine.
• Try not to water when the soil in in direct sunlight as it will evaporate, it’s best to water when the tree is in shade or early morning/in the evening.
• If the tree has a watering pipe, pour half of your water down the pipe and the other half on the ground surface around the tree. If the tree has a watering bag please fill that.

Cllr Jarvis added: “Of course we’re not asking residents to take over our watering schedule, but every little helps, especially in this incredibly hot and dry weather we’re experiencing at the moment. Trees are so important, they obviously give us the oxygen we need to breathe but they have many benefits including storing carbon and reducing air pollution, providing shade and vital habitat for wildlife.”