When at the end of 2020 Friends of Broomfield Park announced the launch of their Tree Project, they were surprised (and delighted) when individuals and businesses offered to donate trees for planting in the park. Obviously, they didn't turn down the offers and are now seeking further donations so that they can make their planting plans even more ambitious and turn Palmers Green even greener.
Why more trees?
You might think that Broomfield Park already has plenty of trees, but the sad fact is that many are reaching the end of their life and the changing climate is exposing them to new pests and new diseases. In any case, planting trees plays a part in slowing climate change and softening its impact - tree cover, for instance, cools down the immediate environment.
Friends of Broomfield Park Tree Project action plan for 2021
- Replace three fallen weeping willows around the ponds.
- Plant a copse of 24 grey and red alders and two weeping willows by the wetland
- Plant an avenue of liquidambar trees by the Coronation Gates
- Replacing fallen horse chestnuts on the north eastern perimeter with small leaf limes
- Other areas to plant:
- groups of oaks on the re-graded area behind the wetlands
- a line of scarlet oaks in the area behind the sports courts
- the bank to the south of the children’s playground
How you can help
If you'd like to help the project, the Friends have made it very easy to donate the cost of a tree by setting up a donation page on their website. The choices are:
- £10 for a bare-rooted tree for the nursery. These will be planted out when they get bigger and your name will appear on the FoBP website (if you so wish).
- £80 for a two year old sapling to plant in the park. These will be well developed saplings which are planted with a protective cage and supports. Your name will appear on the FoBP website.
- £250 for a mature tree to plant in the park. These will be about 5 - 10 years and have a substantial root ball ready for planting out in the park, supported by a strong cage and supports. As well as an acknowledgment on the website, your name and message will be on a plaque attached to the tree.
Contributors to the FoBP Tree Donor project to date
£80 will pay for a two year old sapling to plant out
- 5 mature Liquidambar trees for the avenue with all planting supplies from Herman Pobrati, a local landscape gardener (Acacia Gardens).
- 3 mature Liquidambar trees for the avenue from John Cogger in recognition of his grandmother, Matilda Southgate Biddall.
- 2 two-year old saplings from John Macfarlane, Weeping willow and Golden Alder for the Wetland border.
- 2 trees from Jill and Ray Bowden, two-year Weeping Willow sapling for the Wetland border and a five-year old Acer Negundo.
- Anne and Ralph Hutchings have donated a Ginkgo Biloba for the middle pond border.
Plus: Alan Droy, Daniel Beardsley, Elizabeth Crosthwaite, Pauline Gatto, Sarah Hill, Emma Towers, Mal Barton, Ruth, Teresa Tunnedine, Jane O'Donovan, Chris Evers, Stuart McGowan, Annamarie Fearnley, Katherine Howlett, Shirley Rose, Derek Spencer, Julia Mountain, Lucy Burton, Tony Burton, Sue and Dave Williamson, Tina Maskell.
