kilometer: I’ve suggested to Defra, so yes, we and our scientists are involved. GIS (Geographic Information System) scientists started working on species selection and modeling, so it was a very important collaboration. In order to provide the best advice, especially for large businesses looking to offset their carbon footprint, we try to explain that the choice of species being grown is key. We can’t just bury anything in the ground. If a tree cannot survive, it is not great.
Trees need to mature and will only capture carbon if they grow correctly. We encourage people outside the plant kingdom to know this. We explain how we think about soil and how it affects trees, and which species grow and thrive in different places.
CS: How do you ensure that the trees you plant will survive?
kilometer: We choose species carefully to make sure it’s just right. Traditional English oak and ash trees are both in decline. We now know that diseases, pests and pathogens are caused by environmental stressors, so we’re looking at species like maple and hornbeam, which have widespread distributions as far as Iran and Azerbaijan. We will try to map the climate for these trees in order to protect English Heritage landscapes. We are also considering collecting oak trees from the south of France. Their genes have changed in the heat, so we need to collect the same species from a different climate zone to protect the species in south-east England.
common beech (Shui Qinggang) are under threat, and indeed are suffering. Over the next 10 to 15 years we will lose a lot of mature beech trees. We need to see where else this species grows, such as Crimea and other arid regions of the Caucasus. We’re already trying to get seeds from dry areas so we can grow them and test them here to see if they adapt better. Oriental beech (eastern beech) grows in drier regions and lower elevations in the Caucasus. The common beech grows slightly taller, but has a middle band where the two trees grow together. We can collect seed from that area, where we know the common beech grows at the edge of its range, and hope to bring it back to South East England, where it should then be more tolerant of drought.
CS: Are there fewer legal restrictions on common species?
kilometer: We still need permission, but it’s more about protecting our British landscape. I love planting rare and interesting species, but we lose heritage landscapes if we only do that. If the National Trust lost all the common beeches and English oaks on its property, we would lose all the gardens designed by Ability Brown.
CS: Does the UK have the most oak trees in the world?
kilometer: Of course, Europe has a lot of trees. We need to protect these trees. Judging by the classification and name, they must be English oaks. Historians say many English oaks came from Italy. The same applies to elms. Many trees were brought here when the Romans started their migrations.
CS: Is the UK generally planting more oak trees?
kilometer: Well, future developments will be interesting, especially as people offset carbon emissions, but there are some problems with planting oak trees. In London we now also face an additional hazard from the oak tree moth. The caterpillar was launched in August 2007 as an import from the Netherlands. The affected trees were planted at a development site two miles from Kew. Moth larvae live in groups, and the hairs are poisonous. Hair can cause severe irritation when it comes in contact with livestock or humans. In just a decade, the moth has spread far beyond London. It’s already off the M25 and is now entering Hampshire and Berkshire. People don’t want to plant oak trees because they now have to do a lot of maintenance to control caterpillar populations, including spraying the leaves.
CS: How important is species diversity?
kilometer: The more diverse any collection, the better for everyone. We always look ahead—10 years, 20 years. Canker disease (which destroys plane trees) has now spread to Italy and Central Europe. If we get it here, we lose the London plane tree. Imagine a London without London planes – not just the look of places without planes, but rising temperatures…but at the moment I would say we are managing this cobweb so that we can plant, grow and keep it viable Ongoing collection.
the author
Charlotte Sterland is a performer and rock climber (rocks and trees). She co-founded Shear Rock, a sustainable textile and accessories design company that uses wool from around the world to produce products.
This article first appeared in the latest issue of Revival and Ecologists The magazine uses the theme of kinship to explore how we care for each other. learn more.
