In the Spring, Glendale planted approx. 25 mid-size trees in the south and middle parts of Ladywell Fields. By June, however, park users reported, and brought it to Glendale’s attention, that many of these trees appeared in distress with some looking as if they may already be dead.
Glendale confirmed last week that the original trees (i.e. before this replacement planting) had died during the ‘Parklands’ contractor’s retention period and were therefore replaced by the contractor as they had failed adequately to maintain them. As such there was no additional cost to Lewisham or the Parklands project.
However, the replacement trees were planted by a division of Glendale, called Civic Trees. Some confusion remains about the specific level of maintenance cover contractually required of Civic Trees by the contractor who was responsible for re-landscaping of the park.
Pending resolution of this issue, Glendale started to water the trees weekly, from the end of June.
A review of the trees will take place in the Autumn period to establish which (if any) trees need to be replaced.
The User Group has stressed to Glendale that notwithstanding the contractual wrangle, this situation (whereby trees are planted at considerable expense every year only be to allowed to die) cannot be repeated and every effort must be made to save those new plantings that still survive. You can add your voice to this demand by emailing angus.fraser@glendale-services.co.uk
Robert Sheppard