Trees


 

Tree Planting and Care 

Trees help us in so many ways. They are vital to the air we breathe, help offset air pollution, absorb and reduce air and noise pollution, provide shade and habitat for birds, insects and other creatures.

1998 saw the first tree planting in this current 'wave'. Four London Plane trees, a hornbeam and a field maple were planted by the Tree Musketeers (link opens in new window/tab), and local residents. Sadly two died, as in the early days we did not realise just how much water young trees need, nor that they needed protection from dogs! 
 
Big Tree - 2005. Pre-hedge
 
Since then about 100 trees have been incrementally planted by a partnership of the Tree Musketeers (link opens in new window/tab), SNUG volunteers and Hackney's Parks and Arboricultural Department. Also our after-care knowledge has improved immensely. Indeed we are in the lucky position of not really having space for any more trees.
  
As well as tree planting days, SNUG holds work days over the year to water and tend trees as necessary. Contact us for further details.

Two people planting trees
3 people planting
 
 

And Now...

 

 
The pictures below are of Sanford Terrace before extensive hedge and tree planting, and the pictures below were taken from the same spots now.
 
Sandford Terrace after planting
Sandford Terrace before tree planting
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Although the Common now has a healthy stock of trees, it is a small urban park, trees are quite fragile and each one is precious.

Breaking branches, or stripping bark, introduces disease and deprives a tree of nutrients and so eventually kills the tree.
Sometimes people get their dogs to tear the tree bark. Unfortunately many trees we planted over the years have died after the bark was stripped off by people or poorly trained, or badly treated dogs.
 

Commemorative Trees  

Many of the trees on the Common are commemorative.
A maple (Acer Rubrum Freemanii Autumn Blaze) and a 'Taiwan' cherry tree (Prunus Okame) were planted in honour of two SNUG members who died in recent years: Mahbub Miah and Cheryl Grey, respectively.
 
 
 
Commemorative tree on Stoke Newinton CommonCommemorative tree on Stoke Newinton Common 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
In 2009, an Atlas Ceder tree was planted and a plaque erected to commemorate the struggle to end the Atlantic African slave trade.


 
 

Tree Map

The map below shows the number and huge diversity of tree types on the Common.