Dear Sir,
In reply to Tony George’s letter in the last issue of the Journal about the Zelkova, the Trees Committee never envisaged that it was to be regularly pollarded. We hope for a smaller version of the original tree that will not be dangerous because there will be so much less weight.
Petitions were going around to save the tree and the trunk itself is monumental and we were encouraged to think that the tree could be saved by advice received by John Welton from Derek Patch, advisor to the Arboricultural Association, who recommended pollarding as an alternative to felling. A mature tree is also much more valuable ecologically than a newly planted one.
We very much appreciate the care the Estate takes of Dulwich trees and hope this course of action may prove justified.
Stella Benwell, Trees Committee member