MEMBERS of Tavistock?s recently formed Tree Preservation Group held its first working party this month, tending young saplings on land at the entrance to the town.
The group was formed last year, following the announcement that several prominent trees in Tavistock?s two cemeteries faced the axe through safety fears.
This month, five volunteers worked on three young beech trees planted on the grass verge at Brook Lane, near Westmoor Veterinary Centre.
Brian Fyfield-Shayler, group co-ordinator, said: ?The work party took an hour to carefully remove old plastic guards that had cut deep into the bark at ground level and restricted root growth below.
?Such guards, useful to stop rabbits gnawing tender saplings, sometimes harbour voles and other small creatures that damage young trees.?
Mr Fyfield-Shayler said even the biodegradable type of guards, which had protected the trees at Brook Lane, can prove a hidden danger to the trees they are supposed to protect. Parts of the guards hidden from light fail to degrade and consequently could tighten and strangle expanding tree roots.
The group also trimmed back the grass around each tree, which have been badly damaged in the past by strimmers.
Mr Fyfield-Shayler said: ?It is not always realised that young trees are vulnerable to strimmer damage. The whole life of a tree is carried just beneath its bark in a narrow section which will become this year?s ring. If the bark is damaged and this ring severed, the tree will die.
?By clearing grass, there is no need to strim close and damage is avoided.?
The volunteers also mulched the area around the trees using material from recycled Christmas trees.
TTPG volunteers also attended a recent meeting in the town called by the Silvanus Trust, which is working to expand the tree warden scheme in West Devon. It is likely that members of the group will also become tree wardens for the parish of Tavistock.
Tavistock Tree Preservation Group will hold further working parties during the summer. Anyone interested in joining the group or finding out more should e-mail [email protected]">[email protected]