Today’s destination for tree planting was Epping Way where we planted three lovely trees; a Betula Pendula ‘Tristis’ and two Acer Campestre, ‘Louisa Red Shine’ and ‘William Caldwell’.
These trees, as with most of our trees, come from a specialist nursery in Ely called Barcham. For the last year or so they have been grown in white fabric bags designed to help the roots develop a fibrous structure and avoid being coiled around as often happens in solid pots and this gives better root development after planting. Bartram’s trees are always good quality healthy trees and we get them in over 12 feet tall.
The life of our trees starts off in a field in the Cambridgshire Fens where they are initially gown before being potted up at the nursery and placed in their respective slots in a tree line to further develop the root system prior to sale. After being transported to Witham they have spent the last few weeks (since 17 January) carefully stored in Eric’s back garden before reaching their final destination, today this being Epping Way.
The planting of a tree, especially one that has been containerised for some time, feels to me like releasing a caged animal into the wild! Maybe over the top, but it is such a pleasure to introduce a tree to its final home where hopefully it will grow and flourish for very many years to come.
Betuala Pendula ‘Tristis’ known as the Weeping Birch is one of the most graceful pendulous trees available. Having characteristic Silver Birch bark as it matures its twiggy branch network is particularly stunning in winter.
The Field Maple Acer Campestre ‘Louisa Red Shine’ has the significant benefit of producing new growth which is bright crimson before turning to a deep green as the growing season progresses and will give a fantastic display of contrasting foliage. ‘William Caldwell’ too will provide good autumn colour turning orange and sometimes red on acid soils and buttercup yellow on alkaline soil.
Jane Noble
March 2019
