All about the South Hams Tree Warden Network

Guest Blog from Thelma Rumsey - Tree Warden Coordinator

Tree Wardens are volunteers who are united in their love of trees and hedges and want to conserve as many of them as they can within their parish or town. As volunteers, we have no special powers or authority; we are not experts and are not expected to be. We are not tree officers and, although our tree wardens liaise frequently with SHDC’s tree office, it is only the tree officer who can make decisions about the fate of any tree or woodland and legally act upon it.

The umbrella organisation for all tree wardens is the Tree Council, who provide training manuals for any new tree warden as well as a wealth of information on their
website www.treecouncil.org.uk.

The most important piece of advice for anyone thinking of becoming a Tree Warden is - don’t be overwhelmed! As volunteers, we cannot know the answers to all the complexities surrounding tree legislation. We also cannot answer every question that we might be asked about trees but, within the group, there will always be someone who does. We are very lucky in our group as some of our wardens are extremely experienced and knowledgeable. As the main contact for the Network I pass important information to everyone and also help in problem solving. For example, if any tree warden has a worrying issue I can put them in touch with another warden who has the knowledge to advise them.

At the moment, the South Hams Tree Warden Network has around 50 wardens and we are found in most parishes, though sadly not all. Parish clerks should know who their parish tree warden is. We have a committee of 8 tree wardens including the Chair, Coordinator, and Treasurer who usually meet every 3 months.

In the South Hams we see mature tree protection as our primary job. We want to retain as many mature trees and established hedgerows within our parishes/towns as we can. We act as extra pairs of eyes and ears for the tree officer who is expected to be aware of tree issues over the whole of the South Hams and West Devon. Knowing our patch and knowing which trees, and which woodland, within it are protected, and what isn’t is the essence of what we do. With this knowledge we can inform the tree officer if a high amenity tree or trees are threatened.  Often when houses/land are sold that have mature trees on site, and a bigger house or development is planned, trees can be seen as a liability. If the tree is significant in the landscape we know we can request that the tree officer looks into whether he can issue a Tree Protection Order, Woodland Order of Area Order. So, in these situations you could say that we have an interest in the planning process.

For already listed trees with Tree Preservation Orders or within the Parish/Town Conservation Area the wardens also get involved. If any landowner wants to do work on such a tree they have to apply to SHDC tree office.  The tree office then sends the notice of works to the Parish/Town Council for their comments BUT ALSO to the parish/town tree warden who comments separately. Many of our tree wardens are parish councillors but quite a few of us are independent although we always try to have a good relationship with our local councillors.

We do get involved with the planting of whips when the opportunity arises and we do not decry this. But we know that it will be at least 10 years before they can benefit the climate with any carbon capture or sequestration. The felling of mature trees that are already reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere with the accompanying loss of the biodiversity associated with them can be catastrophic. Planting new trees helps but the biodiversity on a 100 year old oak tree, and its ability to soak up carbon dioxide, cannot be equalled by replants. Retention, if at all possible, has to be our priority.

As Tree Wardens we always seek landowners’ permission before going onto their land, whether it’s to look closer at a TPO’d tree, conduct a hedge survey, or to remove stakes and ties on newly planted trees. We never give technical advice, make decisions or offer opinions on matters relating to tree health, and particularly tree safety. This is the job of the professionally qualified tree officer, who has the legal right to deal with such matters. You could be legally liable for the consequences of any such advice given.

Parishes without Tree Wardens currently:

Berry Pomeroy

Buckfastleigh West

Buckland Tout Saints

Charleton

Churchstow

Dartmouth

Dean Prior

Diptford

Harford

Littlehempston

Loddiswell

Ringmore

South Pool

Stoke Fleming

Totnes

West Alvington

Woodleigh

Yealmpton

If you would like to become a tree warden for your area, please contact Thelma Rumsey, South Hams Tree Network Coordinator on thelmainkingston@gmail.com.

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Thelma Rumsey

Coordinator South Hams Tree Warden Network

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Tree Stories

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This is a photo of an ash tree that had a TPO put on it in 2007 when the houses were built in Westentown, Kingston (now on land run by Guinness Trust).

From 2020 up until the present day (there is a request at the moment to fell this tree) there have been 3 applications by the Guinness Trust to either remove boughs or to fell this tree.  All, so far, have been refused by the Tree Officer.  The Guinness Trust said in the first application that the tree had to be felled because of ash dieback.  This latest application says that the tree does not have ash dieback but might have phytophthora (which ash do not tend to get).

As the Tree Warden for Kingston I have been able to state my views and have been able to give more information to the Tree Officer about the history of the tree and hope he will consider this when making his decision. It is obviously still his decision alone as to whether felling will be allowed I shall have to wait and see. I have done my best.

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This lovely solitary oak is in a field called Vicarage Park in Kingston.  There was a planning application in 2016 to build houses on much of this land.  There is a public footpath passing below the tree which meant that the tree was visible to any person that crossed by this path, so it has high amenity value and the tree was also in good health, so I asked SHDC to put a TPO on it.  In 2016 they issued a TPO on the tree which gives the tree maximum protection for life.

The development argument went on for years and so far there have been no houses built but any future development will have to retain this tree.

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