Forum Topic

Sapling Trees in Acton

For those of us who were lucky to have some saplings planted down our roads, please give them some water if you can.  On my walk home I have noticed quite a few very thirsty trees.

Niki Scrase ● 3016d29 Comments

Yes I agree there are a lot of young trees which are looking unhappy.  I believe that many of them have an underground irrigation system.  I suppose that this water bag is filled by the Councils on a regular basis - but it just isn't often enough in this weather.

Philippa Bond ● 3016d

What do the Councillors say about this?It would be a shame to lose trees when it may only take a little intervention.

Philippa Bond ● 3014d

I wouldn't wait for the council to do it. There are several dead and abandoned new saplings on the high street.Let's all just put some water on the ones near us and hopefully keep them alive and growing :-)

Mark Jarvis ● 3014d

"Dead and Abandoned Saplings"  :(

Philippa Bond ● 3013d

Yes Mark, we are all responsible for them - should we expect the council to go around watering every tree in Acton.  Doesn’t take much if it’s right outside your house.  Thank goodness for some rain today

Niki Scrase ● 3012d

Just walked along Creswick Road Acton and due to the adverse weather a mature tree outside Edendale has fallen across the pavement. No sign of Highways or the Tree department all day to sort it out. Yet again Ealing Council's failure to act in a responsible manner...

Nicolas Ozegovic ● 3012d

We are about to lose a lovely sapling tree in our street as it is now leaning badly despite our efforts to support it after vandals removed the wooden supports. I have reported this twice in the last week to Ealing Council via the 24/7 app but had no response so far!The Council is surely wasting money neglecting these little sapling trees, it is such a shame.My husband and I have really tried to do something to ensure that this tree doesn't die but without proper equipment it just keeps falling over!

Jean F Fernandez ● 3012d

Still no response from Ealing Council regardung the damaged sapling tree in my road.So far I have sent 3 reports!!!  Why plant sapling trees if they are not going to look after them?

Jean F Fernandez ● 3008d

Have you tried reporting differently for instance on the My Account page on the LBE website?  When I last looked at the LBE reporting pages there was a messge across the top saying that there was a problem with it.

Philippa Bond ● 3008d

I reported twice using the 24/7 app. Then I sent an email to the department responsible for trees.If the council are not bothered why should I? I have given up now.

Jean F Fernandez ● 3007d

I reported the very same tree, too, a couple of days ago - by phone, after waiting for over 20 mins to speak to a very sympathetic human who obviousy has no influence on the eventual outcome. Just keep watering it....

Urs Esser ● 3007d

Can anybody from Cultivate London help?Or the allotments?  The problem is they are already probably struggling to keep their plants alive...  But it sounds as though someone who could help with the posts to keep it upright might be the answer.I now wish I'd mentioned it to one of the wardens I saw in another LBE park yesterday now but I was there doing something else.

Philippa Bond ● 3006d

Philippa, I sent an email to Julian Bell yesterday regarding the sapling tree and other issues relating to the 24/7 App.The sapling tree is now leaning over badly into the road, my husband and I did attempt to support it but to no avail.I am still awaiting a response from the council, but meanwhile if anyone could try and upright this little sapling it is outside No. 30 Faraday Road W3 6JBNeglecting young trees must be costing the council a lot of money as they may then have to replace them.

Jean F Fernandez ● 3006d

Rain - Hurray!  The ground is still very hard though.  Lots of puddles in Hammersmith yesterday.Jean - any luck with the sapling?

Philippa Bond ● 3000d

Sadly no response from Ealing Council, not even from Julian Bell! Are they all on holiday I wonder?Anyway, someone managed to prop it up a little to stop it falling into the road. Let's hope someone from Ealing Council reads this and saves this little sapling tree!

Jean F Fernandez ● 3000d

Well done everyone for watering the trees in your area. Some positive news and probably one of the better negotiations with a private contractor, who is obliged to change saplings  up to three years old if they do not take. The council contractor should also water newly planted trees and change any defective posts. Try emailing Dale Mortimer MortimerD@ealing.gov.uk who is the trees manager at Ealing.

Kris Smith ● 2999d

Thanks for the information Kris, I just sent a message to Mr Mortimer.

Jean F Fernandez ● 2999d

I am pleased to say that the sapling tree in our street has now been supported and is upright once again.Thanks to Kris for the contact address at Ealing Council.

Jean F Fernandez ● 2997d

Well done.  Great news!  But it shouldn't be this difficult.

Philippa Bond ● 2997d

I agree, I am so pleased the tree has been supported now, it was frustrating waiting for a response from the council!

Jean F Fernandez ● 2996d

Dale Mortimer and others at the council allowed 34 healthly protected trees to be felled in West Acton by the Owners of Peacehaven... Hardly a good effort propping up a sapling in the street. Now I have logded a stage 1 complaint and the date for their response has expired. Bring on the next stage stage 2 see if they can be bothered to explain their actions.

Nicolas Ozegovic ● 2996d

GO for it Nicolas, this Council CAN'T do just what it wants when it wants, it HAS to be accountable.GOOD LUCK!

Rosco White ● 2996d

Thanks Rosco, problem is that these people think that they are untouchable!! They need to be brought to book. Ealing is bigger than them and people should understand that this maladministration needs to stop as it affect us all in the long run.

Nicolas Ozegovic ● 2996d

Change will only happen when the residents get off their backsides and start Complaining, regularly and relentlessly, about whatever matters irk them.Annoyingly, nearly everyone sits back and lets the very few do all the Complaining work, such that said Complainers get tarred as troublemakers and ignored. If everyone Complained there'd soon be lots of change.

Rosco White ● 2996d

L.B of Ealing have a tremendous task on their hands, not making excuses for them and have no idea how Councils are run but as they cover such a wide area, do they have a section within the Council that just deals with Acton problems or is everywhere treated as a whole combined if you see what I mean.

Janice Evans ● 2995d

If you contact your local ward councillors they will be more helpful in dealing with LBE matters more quickly - hope that helps

Miss Rola Haddad ● 2994d

Forget it the ward councillors are useless don't be fooled by cheap words " I will investigate it and get back to you", I have complained about matters relating to the Protected trees, I even included Cllr Nigel Sumner Conservative and Cllr Ray Wall who sat on the Planning Committee the night that the planning matter was debated, the planning application included the condition "for every tree felled a new one will be planted" 24 trees cut down and 1 to replace all of them. And not to put a finer point on matters the developer cut down a further 7 protected trees in the garden which was allocated to the main locally listed house without permission no sign of any one from the LBE tree department. You should read LBE webportal about illegal felling of protected trees the fine is £20,00.00p No action taken against the owners todate. The whole matter is now subject to a stage 1 complaint which the timeframe has expired and I am in the process of escalting the matter to 2nd stage. Reading on this and W5 forum Ealing Council fail to answer any complaints logged against them so I will probably end up complaining directly to the Local Ombudsman if that is the case...

Nicolas Ozegovic ● 2994d

This needs to be done Nicolas, LBE are Out Of Control.But you already know that, many don't.  :-)

Rosco White ● 2994d

The answer is I think in this thread - presuming that the person who can help is still there!It took a very long time to get the search facility to work!!!

Philippa Bond ● 2771d