I received a query from a couple concerned about the removal of some trees from the Woods, and thought that others may have some questions too, so am posting the query here and my reply here in case of interest:
Thank you for supplying your email address for those who
have questions. This is very kind. We have a question and we would
like to ask the good people from rotary and all other gardeners in Rolands wood
without offending them in any way. Why do they chop all those
trees? Today we noticed more orange ribbons around tree trunks and it
looks like more trees will be chopped. We love Rolands wood and we are
there nearly every weekend with our two dogs for the last three years.
And every year we see more and more trees removed and weeds growing instead of
English beech trees, tulip trees and oaks. We think the character
of the woods is changing and we are not sure it is for better. The woods
are not woods anymore and English beech woodland is losing its character. Our question is: What is the reason for this mass tree
removal? Thank you Jeannie in advance for passing our question and
maybe replaying to this email , we are looking forward to know the answer.
First of all, thank you for your inquiry and for caring enough about the Woods to follow up your
concerns.
You are right, there have been
some tree removals recently and there are some more trees identified for
removal too, but the reasons for this are sound and based on good consultation
with experts including arborists and landscape designers. I have attached
here a couple of reports by landscaper Margaret Phillips for your
information. John is just waiting on a report from another independent
arborist Roy Hollister.
Unhealthy trees
The trees that have been cut
down, and the ones currently tagged, are trees that were / are in bad shape -
stressed, dead or dying, or compromising other trees. They are covered in
lichen or sooty mould, they have lost their leaves much earlier than other
trees, and they are badly shaped, probably from initial inexpert pruning when
they were very young. If you look at the trees tagged for removal, you'll
see yourself that they are not healthy trees. All removed timber is
used for mulch in the Woods.
Overcrowding
In some cases the trees were
planted too close together, restricting the amount of light which in turn
impacts on plant growth and soil / ecosystem health. Apparently, a 1%
increase in light can result in a 100% increase in plant peformance, with light
being even more important than water or soil nutrients. Roland was in a
hurry to get a woodland effect and did mass planting but as the trees have
grown they are compromising each other's long term viability.
Suitability of beech
Roland fell in love with beech
trees and planted a lot of these trees, along with the bluebells. However, beech
are not naturally found in this climate - it is too humid up here and not cold
enough winters, and so as the trees age this "unnatural setting" for them
will start to have an impact on their longevity. By removing the
unhealthy trees it will give the others a better chance of thriving.
Roland also planted a huge
variety of other trees and flowers, so he never had in mind an exclusively
beech woodland - he planted cedars, silkwoods, magnolias, rhododendrons,
maples, oaks, ginkos, camellia, azalea, subtropicals, dombeya, lassiandra, bottlebrush, pohutakawa, acmena, and a wide variety of bulbs… It wasn't a purist approach!
Weeds
You mention more weeds becoming
apparent but I think you are mistaken on this. The woods were rescued
from a decade of complete neglect - read more about this on the blog under The
story of Roland's Wood - when the weeds took
over the woods completely. Kikuyu, gorse, tobacco, kapok - you name it
the woods was thick with it, practically impenetrable, and gradually the weeds
have been brought under control. It doesn't help having some very
overgrown neighbouring sections which means that weeds get spread by wind to
the Woods, but those issues are gradually being addressed.
The Woods may have looked weedy
and messy while the tree trimming was happening but a good mow once all the
prunings and timber were tidied up made a big difference.
The massive plantings of renga
renga lilies, iris, clivia, hydrangea etc and the ongoing labourious process of
mulching as much as possible is doing a lot to keep weeds down, enrich the soil and to hopefully
reduce future maintenance. The other advantages of this
"understory" planting is both to manage water flows to avoid soil
erosion in very heavy rainfalls, and of course, too, for the pleasure of
swathes of flowers and interesting foliage to add to the variety through the
year.
Next steps
For every tree removed, more are
being planted - chosen for suiting our climate and the site as well as being
true to Roland's original vision. New vistas are being opened up and new
pathways created which gives people, and dogs, more options for which route to
take and which part of the Woods to explore.
I think perhaps it would have
been a good idea to explain some of this to people using the woods so they knew
what was going on and why, but the overwhelming response from people using the
woods regularly over years has been to comment on all the steady improvements -
be it access, plant health, variety… I'll add a post to the blog, and
I would like to see some good signage and noticeboard installed at the
entrance, but even something as simple as this is complicated by the management
structure of the Woods at the moment.
An actual "English beech
woodland", left to its own devices to grow "naturally", is just
not possible to achieve in Kerikeri. We have a completely different
climate and ecosystem, and so we need to do what we can
to maintain the best of Roland's vision - part of which was a healthy beech woodland
underplanted with bluebells, but also his vision included a variety of magnolias,
lilies, ponds and pathways, autumn colour and so much more for the people and
dogs of Kerikeri.
I hope this has answered your
question. If you would like to talk about it more, perhaps contact John
Horrell to meet you at the woods one weekend and discuss it with him.
John, who was a friend of Roland's and the instigator of the wood's revival, is
passionate about making the woods as enjoyable, interesting, accessible, manageable
and sustainable as possible. He welcomes any input and support. The
Kerikeri Rotary Club are no longer involved in the woods.
I knew Roland myself a little and imagine
that he would be absolutely delighted to see the Woods as they are now, how
they are developing, and how they are used and enjoyed by so many.
Aren't we lucky to benefit from
his dream, efforts and generosity?!
Kind regards, Jeannie
Just a quick update for anyone checking on the blog about the bluebells flowering in Roland's Wood - here are a few photos from today to show you what's happening - they are a bit later this year but well underway now...
When I went today the Parua Bay Garden Club were visiting the Woods and enjoying a guided tour with John Horrell.
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