The electricity substation in Cut Throat Lane extends well into the open public area at the bottom of Teak Walk. This area also overlooks the industrial estate to the east. In discussion with Eastlight and representatives of the local residents association we agreed to seek means to provide some screening for these features to improve the view for local residents and those using the open area.
For the substation we were able to take advantage of a scheme offered by The Conservation Volunteers (TCV), supported by Ovo Energy, to provide free whips, in this case 200 assorted hedging trees. For the industrial estate, we sought to fill gaps in the already existing screen, provided by trees planted a few years ago by Braintree District Council (BDC) under a section 106 scheme (on which the Tree Group advised). We were most grateful to secure funding for this purpose from BDC under its Community Grants scheme, through the good offices of Councillor Michelle Weeks. The grant allowed us to add three substantial trees to the area.
The planting was carried out on Saturday, 11 December. It proved to be a lengthy session, with all the whips needing to be staked and provided with rabbit guards. Besides the whips provided by TCV, members added some whips and small trees from their own gardens. In addition our special thanks go to Tim and Ako who donated a number of small cob trees which they had grown and which, besides their useful role in masking the intrusive metalwork of the substation, will in due course provide tasty and healthy cob nuts to local residents.
It will of course take some years for all the trees to establish and create the hedge which will eventually screen the electricity substation, though even in the early years the planting should go a long way to soften the impact of the machinery. For screening the industrial area the new more substantial trees should make a noticeable impact from their first year of growth. We shall, as always, be watering and maintaining the new planting until it is established.
Richard Hawkes
December 2021
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