Our new trees need your help say Chichester Tree Wardens

April showers (and some downpours!) may have arrived a month late but Chichester trees are still suffering from too little water. Last month they received less than 2cm rainfall and March was also below average. Chichester is generally breezy at this time of year too, which adds to the stress of trees because winds increase water loss from leaves and physically stress trunks.

Chichester Tree Wardens have noticed that many new street trees – those planted within the past three years - are struggling after the second drought in as many years.

They are issuing a plea for Chichester residents to water their local trees to keep them alive and so that they can develop long roots to find their own water in the future.

Florence Park and Parklands green both benefit from tree watering groups who come together once a week to give all new trees 30-40l of water each throughout the summer.

In other areas, residents have joined neighbours to take turns watering new trees in their streets, and some residents have taken on sole responsibility for a tree close to their home.

“Life is so busy and rushed, so I love how sharing weekly watering two new trees in our road with three neighbours makes me feel more connected to the area,” said one volunteer Tree Warden in Whyke who is tending trees planted in the winter. “Watching them thrive is a real pleasure and I know that whoever lives in my house in another 40 years’ time will look at those mature trees just as I do now.”

If you have a park nearby, why not check to see if there are new trees and form a small group to water them? It can be a wonderful boost to one’s sense of well-being and belonging to a community, meeting new people or finding new things in common.

A new tree can cost your local council up to £1,000 to buy and plant; helping trees receive water and care, and go on to thrive, helps makes the most of that investment.

If you need any pointers on how to go about watering trees, please visit Chichester Tree Wardens’ website given below. Many trees are planted with black plastic pipes to send the water straight down to the roots – a thorough soaking of the roots encourages a healthy deep root development. (Mulch around a tree helps too, to reduce water evaporation and discourage any weeds and other growth that compete with the tree for light, nutrients, and water.) Park trees may have green watering bags, designed to be filled with water that releases slowly.

And if you love trees and/or are curious about what volunteer Tree Wardens do, Chichester Tree Wardens would love to welcome you at one of their Festival of Chichester events this year. Choose a walk to Explore Trees in Litten Gardens (the public memorial gardens beside New Park Road/St Pancras in the centre of Chichester) and/or join a talk by the Tree Council’s Director of Trees, Science and Research, Jon Stokes, on his Tree Odyssey to describe and celebrate all of Britain & Ireland’s native trees and shrubs. A volunteer is also guiding tree walks for Friends of Bishop’s Palace Garden too.

Don’t be shy, help a tree to thrive this year and into the future.

Explore Trees in Litten Gardens: Thursday 25 June (£5; 6.15pm)

Bishop’s Palace Garden guided tree walks: Tuesday/Thursday 16/18 June (£10; 10.30-11.30am)

A Tree Odyssey with Jon Stokes: Tuesday 14 July (£8.50/£5; 7.30pm)

Tickets: https://www.ticketsource.com/chichester-tree-wardens ; www.festivalofchichester.co.uk (Events – Walk or Tour – WT7 and WT3A/B; Spoken Word SW21)

Chichester Tree Wardens: https://www.treesinchi.org/young-tree-maintenance