Issue - meetings

1.            Sustainability and Tree Planting - the Work of the Enfield Society's Trees Group

To receive a presentation for discussion from the Enfield Society. 

2.            Firs Farm Wetlands Project

To receive a presentation for discussion. 

1.            Enfield Society Tree Project

The forum received a presentation from John West (Enfield Society) on the Enfield Society Trees Project. 

1.1         Presentation

The following points were highlighted during the presentation: 

·         The overall aim of the Enfield Society was the conservation and enhancement of the civic and natural environment. 

·         The society managed a tree nursery at the Trentwood Side Allotments where they cultivate about 140 saplings a year, varying in size from small specimens to 3 metre high trees. 

·         People donate saplings, often found in their gardens, and these are grown on until they are ready to be planted in local parks and open spaces.

·         The planting of native species in encouraged as well as European trees in decline such as the Mulberry and the Black Walnut.    

·         The Society work closely with the friends of the park’s groups and the Council’s arboricultural and parks’ officers.    

·         Recently they have provided trees in Arnos Park, Bush Hill Park, Firs Farm Wetlands and the Weir Hall Recreation Ground. 

·         The Society are currently working with the Friends of Broomfield Park and on providing trees along the London Loop as part of the Enfield Chase Restoration project.

·         Once trees are planted, local people are encouraged to monitor them to ensure that they survive.

·         The Society has produced a book “Young Explorers” aimed at key stage 1 and 2 to encourage an interest in young people.

·         Many Enfield trees were planted in the first half of the 20^th century and were now reaching the end of their natural life and so needed replacing.

·         The society is always looking for young saplings and sites that would benefit from a tree. 

1.2         Questions/Comments

1.2.1    Members thanked John West for his presentation which they found very informative. 

1.2.2    Trees were monolithed often to reduce root growth especially in street trees.  There was some concern about this being done to trees in Trent Park.  It was suggested that questions about this would best be addressed to the Council’s arboricultural officer. 

1.2.3    Concern about protecting the newly planted trees in Enfield Chase which were felt to be vulnerable to theft and vandalism. 

1.2.4    The request that Bowes School along the North Circular be considered for future planting projects. 

1.3         Summing up by the Chair

The Chair summed up by thanking John West for his presentation, referring the query on molithing trees to the Council’s arboricultural officer and requesting that the Enfield Society book on tree spotting be made available to the Council to help promote. 

2.            Firs Farm Wetlands Project

Helen Osman with Gail Nielen from the Friends of Firs Farm gave a presentation on the Firs Farm Wetlands Project. 

2.1         Presentation

The following points were highlighted during the presentation: 

·         Firs Farm was originally farmland, used during the second world war as a prisoner of war camp and after as a playing field.  But it had become dilapidated and underused in recent years. 

·         In 2013 Toni Guiver and others had decided that something should be done.  They had leafleted the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3