The Friends of Maghull & District (FOMD) will be delighted to welcome any volunteers to our next weekly one-hour tidy up of Maghull, which will be at our new and biggest environmental project yet, entitled the NHS Wellness Dell.

We will meet for one hour at 10 o’clock next Saturday (18.11.23) in the wooded area across the road from the Hare & Hounds Pub on Liverpool Rd North, Maghull.

On this occasion we are continuing to remove the ivy which is damaging the trees and walls.

Consequently, please bring garden gloves, litter secateurs, loppers, tree saw, axe, and sheers. Wrap up, as it could be a wet one! Check our website’s events page for any changes or further information at www.fomd.co.uk

In the last five one-hour sessions remarkably we have now collected 64 bags of litter, a huge array of debris and eight agricultural bags of tree and wall damaging Ivy, receiving some wonderful feedback and clearly seeing the difference every time we are there.

Many thanks to Chris (B), John and Chris (R) who did a remarkable job removing ivy from the perimeter wall and several more tree trunks, resulting in two agricultural bags tenacious damaging Ivy, which was even a concern of the Sefton tree officer in 2014! (see below for one of several reports).

Tree Consultation Notes Following Consultation with JE (Sefton Tree Officer) concerning The Dell (2014)

1. JE identifying the protected trees and those not protected.
2. JE identified that T11 is no longer there.
3. Protected trees on site – the ivy is becoming an issue. JE can’t insist that the ivy is removed but currently the ivy is harmful to the trees; it restricts inspection and canopy growth.
4. It is possible to control the ivy growth by removing a 6” – 12” wide band of ivy from each tree low to the ground; allow 12 months for the ivy to die off, then remove.
5. It may be worth trying to tackle the high level ivy growth with hedge shears to reduce.
6. JE is content for the ivy to be removed from the protected trees without any formal application to Sefton MBC.
7. JE does not have any authority on trees other than the protected trees; so other trees and saplings may be removed as required.
8. Ground cover: JE has no control over volunteer work but he will check for any SSSIs etc.
9. Diseased trees e.g. phytophthora affecting T4 and T12 – JE would not necessarily condemn the tree unless significant signs of deterioration; suggests annual check on any protected trees found to be diseased.
10. Where a protected tree has dead branches, they may be removed without prior approval of JE.
11. JE suggests the following programme [without prejudice]:
    1. Get ivy under control & remove dead branches, re-assess, get recommendations and make application
    2. Application is presently free, takes 8 weeks and lasts for 2 years from approval date [for work to be done]
    3. Remove saplings, unprotected trees as wanted.
    4. Remove separate growth at base of certain protected trees without seeking further approval
    5. Look at the low branches in relation to eventual plan, increasing light in particular areas
    6. Do not apply for height reduction
    7. Potential to apply for removal of low branches to lift the crown to around 4.5metres
    8. Potential to apply for removal of those protected trees which have not thrived in the setting
    9. Where there is a group of trees close together, potential to apply for reduction/thinning
    10. Hedge already in place between Health Centre Car Park and The Dell – just needs regular trimming to size.

FOMD

Together Making Maghull a Better Place to Live.

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