TENDRING HOSTS PRESTIGIOUS EVENT FOR TREE WARDENS

More than 70 tree wardens from around the East of England descended on Tendring for their annual forum.

The event was hosted by Tendring District Council (TDC) - and among the highlights was a visit to see Old Knobbley, one of the oldest trees in the District.

PHOTO - Some of the tree wardens attending the forum who went to visit Old Knobbley at Furze Hill, Mistley.

The Ancient English Oak is around 600 to 800 years old and even has its own website.

It was alive when King Henry VIII married the first of his six wives, King James I survived Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot and Oliver Cromwell was Lord Protector of England.

Clive Dawson, TDC's Tree Warden Coordinator, said it was a great coup for Tendring to be chosen.

"We were delighted to be asked to act as host for the forum which was staged in partnership with the Tree Council and attracted wardens from Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire," he said.

"It makes all the hard work seem worthwhile when you get to meet a group of such dedicated volunteers and get to hear about all the good work they do."

The forum was held at the Venture Centre 2000 in Lawford with presentations by Jon Stokes of the Tree Council, Jim Smith of the Forestry Commission and Dr Neil Strong of Network Rail who spoke about vegetation problems encountered when trying to keep trains running safely.

Mr Dawson said there was a visit to Furze Hills, Mistley, where the group encountered Old Knobbley - which is a focal point for the village and a meeting place for youngsters.

"It was definitely one of the highlights of the event which was an overall great success," he added.

"It helped promote the financial, social and health benefits that trees provide for local communities as well as the contribution they make to the bio-diversity of an area."

TDC currently has 29 tree wardens representing various areas and anyone interested in finding out more about the volunteer post should contact Mr Dawson on 01255 686155, their Town or Parish Council or the Tree Council website on info@treecouncil.org.uk

Mr Dawson thanked all those at TDC and other local authorities who helped make the event a success.

NOTE - Tree Wardens give up their time to promote the knowledge and welfare of trees where they live. Many work in partnership with the Local Council Tree Warden Coordinator to plants hundreds of new trees each year.

They act as the eyes and ears of their Local Council and work with local communities to promote trees.