How to remove sapling without damaging lavender bush

A tree does not have to be native to the area to qualify for protection.

Germanshepherdsmum

A tree does not have to be native to the area to qualify for protection.

Perhaps you didn't read my previous post. We tried to put a TPO on a huge and magnificent walnut tree- very rare in the East Midlands. And it was refused and we were told that was because it was not a native tree to the area.

I read your previous post. The criterion is that the tree brings significant amenity benefit to the local area. That’s the legal position. You could have appealed the council’s refusal to protect the walnut tree.

On the subject of trees I'd like it to be made law that anyone planting a tree must site it such that the entire canopy will be contained on their own property. Too many people plant them on the boundary eventually forcing their neighbours to "enjoy" the tree whether they want to or not. There is a huge wild cherry tree at the bottom of the garden which backs onto mine. 3 other properties suffer from the shade and dryness it's enormous canopy creates, apart from the ton of seedlings that need pulling every year. It can't be removed because we're in a conservation area.

* contained within, not on.

You wouldn’t get many trees planted would you, especially given the size of garden a new house has. Just a little ornamental one perhaps.

Small ornamental trees are still trees. Larger trees could be planted in the streets, on communal grounds, in the larger gardens. If a garden is too small to contain a large tree within its boundary then that tree is too large for the garden. Why should one person be able to override the wishes of several neighbours who might like to have full use of their own garden space?

Germanshepherdsmum

I read your previous post. The criterion is that the tree brings significant amenity benefit to the local area. That’s the legal position. You could have appealed the council’s refusal to protect the walnut tree.

Thanks. We were told there was no appeal possible. A huge shame as it was magnificent and very old. A walnut tree is one you plant for the next generations- as they take so long to mature and bear fruit.

We planted a walnut tree that year, and it is now quite tall and bearing fruit, 20+ years later- but it will take another 100 or more to reach the size of that magnificent one. I used to pick bucketloads of walnuts.

Sycamores are not UK natives - introduced by the Romans, and known by many arborculturalist as "the weed of the forest"! I hate them so am very biased!

As an aside, my next door neighbour planted a conker in his garden (50ft maximum length) a few feet from the bottomof his garden and about 15 feet from our boundary fence. It is now about 8ft tall but he is adamant it will not be a problem for many years so it willing to let it grow. Regardless of the fact that it's roots and the shade it provides are likely to cause problems not only to him but to his neighbours in the next 10 years or so. Needless to say I am not happy, but what can I do?

The walnut tree we planted is on the corner of our ex property, and NOwhere near another house, and will never obscure or cause any issue with any house at all.

But to answer your query, I would risk digging out the lavender nearby carefully, getting that sapling out properly and then replanting the lavender. Make sure you water in the lavender thoroughly when you replant and then keep an eye on it in any dry weather - but they are tough plants and will survive with care.

Fleurpepper, I hadn't read your post before commenting so my post wasn't in response to yours -sorry if you thought it was.

You are totally right- this thread has digressed a bit too much.

Yes, this is the advice MayBe gave, and I would say the same. Wait till autumn though.

Fleurpepper

Germanshepherdsmum

I read your previous post. The criterion is that the tree brings significant amenity benefit to the local area. That’s the legal position. You could have appealed the council’s refusal to protect the walnut tree.

Thanks. We were told there was no appeal possible. A huge shame as it was magnificent and very old. A walnut tree is one you plant for the next generations- as they take so long to mature and bear fruit.

We planted a walnut tree that year, and it is now quite tall and bearing fruit, 20+ years later- but it will take another 100 or more to reach the size of that magnificent one. I used to pick bucketloads of walnuts.

An appeal was possible within 8 weeks of the council’s decision.

Thank you-sadly too late. We were told by the Council that no appeal was possible- wrongly as you say. There was a lot of vested interest and lots of money involved re a new development- with some of the Councillors involved. Too late and what a shame. I am glad the one we planted is doing well and producing walnuts, albeit still quite small. We go past our old house fairly often- now a Nursery (children, not plants!).

An appeal may have been successful. A shame you didn’t enlist the services of a professional.

Fleurpepper

Germanshepherdsmum

A tree does not have to be native to the area to qualify for protection.

Perhaps you didn't read my previous post. We tried to put a TPO on a huge and magnificent walnut tree- very rare in the East Midlands. And it was refused and we were told that was because it was not a native tree to the area.

Oh!

We have trees around here which are not native but have TPOs on them, even a sycamore which is really common.

Germanshepherdsmum

Why do you say a Scots pine is very unlikely to be subject to a TPO fleurpepper? What’s your reasoning there?

In a conservation area all trees have the same protection as if they were subject to TPOs.

Not necessarily in this area; we are in a conservation area and not all of the trees have TPOs.
However, it is always wise to get written confirmation from the Tree Officer at your County Council if you need to have a tree removed.