Ely`s London Plane - Earth Day

Talking Trees with Lily and Jad . Welcome to Talking Trees , your window into the living history of our natural world . In today's episode we explore a remarkable story from ARB magazine about a historically significant maple-leaved plane tree in Ely , the largest of its kind in the United Kingdom . Largest of its kind in the United Kingdom .

Talking Trees . Hey everyone , and welcome to this deep dive . Today we're going to be talking about something pretty massive .

Yeah , it's big .

Yeah , really big . We're talking about the biggest London plane in the UK .

That's right , biggest London plane , and we're going to be looking at an article in ARB magazine .

From the Arbor Cultural Association .

Yes , from the Arbor Cultural Association .

It's a really good in-depth article and this isn't just history . No , this is like cutting edge stuff that they're doing with this tree to conserve it .

Absolutely . It's a great case study showing how all the latest techniques are being applied to keep this amazing tree going .

Awesome . Well , let's dive in

Well , it's located in EC in the UK , in the gardens of the old Bishop's Palace , which dates back to the 1600s .

Wow , so this tree has been around for over 350 years .

That's right .

Potentially one of the very first London Plains ever planted in the UK , and it's in the old Bishop's Palace , which correct me if I'm wrong , but wasn't that the place where they kept some of the relatives of those involved in the gunpowder plot ?

You're absolutely right , and the palace is now part of King's Ely School .

Oh , wow . So it's still a place of learning . That's incredible . I mean , imagine all the history this tree has witnessed .

It's mind-blowing , isn't it ? And get this In 2013, . Cuttings were taken from the tree .

Really .

And now you can find its offspring growing in places like Kew Gardens , the Sandringham Estate .

Wait , they have a descendant of this tree at Sandringham .

They do Pretty amazing , huh .

That's really cool . I have no idea they were propagating it .

Yeah , and it really highlights how important it is to preserve the genetics of these remarkable trees , especially ones with such historical and biological significance .

Definitely ensuring its legacy lives on . Speaking of history , I read that back in 1937 , there was a pretty dramatic incident with this tree .

Oh yes , A huge limb fell from the tree . A newspaper article at the time described the sound as being like a cannon shot .

Wow , that must have been terrifying .

Luckily , no one was injured , but the incident did lead to the installation of cable bracing , which is still in place today , helping to support the tree .

Yeah , I can imagine with a tree that size , cable bracing would be essential . So despite that major limb loss , the article says that the tree is actually in pretty good health .

It is showing strong signs of vigor , which is great news , but given its age and size and the fact

OK , so they decided to take a closer look . Did they just do a visual inspection or did they go beyond that ?

They went way beyond a simple visual check . They used a really innovative approach called morphophysiology .

Morphophysiology . I'm not familiar with that term .

It's a really fascinating approach . Instead of just looking at the external symptoms , morphophysiology helps us understand the internal processes of the tree .

So it's like looking under the hood , getting a glimpse into the tree's overall vitality and how it's coping with stress .

Exactly . It's about understanding the why behind the what .

That's really interesting . So how did they apply this to our giant London plane ?

They brought in a specialist team from Italy .

From Italy .

Yeah , they're called A-R-E-S-S-A-S D , gasparini , stefania and C , and they conducted a whole tree survey analyzing everything from the leaves and branches to the trunk and root system .

And what did they find ? Any surprises ?

Well , the survey confirmed that the tree is in remarkably good health for its age . But they did discover some internal decay near the base , likely related to that limb failure back in 37 .

That makes sense . So they had both visible and hidden issues to address . What did they decide to do ?

Well , that's where the conservation plan comes in .

All right , let's hear about it . What are they doing to ensure this incredible tree continues to thrive for years to

So the conservation plan . It really is a fascinating blend of traditional techniques and cutting edge technology .

OK , I'm all ears . What exactly are they doing ?

Well , one of the key aspects is replacing the old cable bracing system with a dynamic cabling system . Dynamic cabling it allows for controlled movement . The tree still gets support , but it can also move and flex in response to external forces .

So it's kind of like giving the tree a workout , helping it build strength and flexibility .

That's a great way to put it , and this is crucial for a tree like this , especially with its age and size .

So what specific type of dynamic cabling system are they using ?

They've opted for the Cobra system .

Cobra system .

Yeah , it's known for its . It's very adaptable . You can adjust the tension very precisely and it can be easily modified as the tree grows and changes . And in addition to the dynamic cabling , they're also implementing a multi-year pruning strategy .

I bet pruning a tree that size is quite the undertaking .

Absolutely yeah , you have to be so careful Consider the tree's overall form , the growth patterns , any potential weaknesses and of course , you don't want to mess with its natural beauty .

It's almost like sculpting a living masterpiece . Speaking of art , I read that they held an art weekend at the old Bishop's Palace , with artists drawing inspiration from the tree .

Yes , they had over 75 artists participating , creating all sorts of artwork .

That's amazing . What a great way to connect people with this incredible tree .

Absolutely . They've

So they're making it accessible to the public while still protecting it .

Exactly , it's a delicate balance .

This whole project really shows how tree conservation can be about so much more than just the technical stuff .

Couldn't agree more . It's about community education and celebrating these amazing trees .

It's been so insightful learning about all this , but I'm curious were there any challenges they faced along the way ? So were there any challenges , any roadblocks they had to overcome during this project ?

Oh , there are always challenges with something this big . I think funding is probably the biggest one .

Yeah , all this cutting-edge tech . Yeah , the experts , the ongoing maintenance . It must get expensive .

It does , but they've managed to get support from various sources . The Woodland Trust helped fund the initial morphophysiological survey and King's Eblise covering the ongoing maintenance costs . It's great to see everyone coming together to support this magnificent tree .

It really is . What about the coordination aspect ? It sounds like a lot of different groups were involved .

Absolutely . You've got the arboricultural consultants , scientists from the University of Cambridge , the Tree Council , the Woodland Trust , the school itself .

Wow , that's a lot of people to get on the same page .

It was definitely a challenge keeping everyone

That's inspiring . It sounds like the team in Eli has set a great example for how to approach these kind of large-scale conservation projects .

They really have . It shows what's possible when we work together and combine our knowledge and resources .

So for our listeners out there , a lot of whom are arborists themselves , what are the key takeaways from this Eli case study ? What can they learn from it ?

Well , I think one of the biggest lessons is the importance of looking beyond the surface .

Not just treating the symptoms , but really understanding what's going on inside the tree .

Exactly Just like they used morphophysiology to get a complete picture of the tree's health , we should all strive to take a more holistic approach in our work .

Considering the whole tree , its environment , its long-term needs .

Exactly . And the other big takeaway is the power of collaboration . Don't be afraid to reach out to colleagues , researchers , organizations like the Tree Council or the Arboricultural Association . We can achieve so much more when we work together , Sharing knowledge , learning from each other . Trees the dedication and care that they showed in Ely . It's truly inspiring .

The story of Ely's London Plain is a testament to human ingenuity and dedication to preserving our natural heritage . It's given me a lot to think about .

Me too . And as we wrap up , I want to leave our listeners with this grip . Take a look at the trees in your own community . What stories do they tell ? What can you do to ensure they continue to thrive for years

Every tree has the potential to become a symbol of resilience and the interconnectedness of life . Thanks for joining us on this deep dive . Until next time , keep branching out your knowledge and reaching for the canopy reaching for the canopy .

Thank you for joining us on today's journey through the rich legacy of Ely's historic maple-leaved plane tree . We've explored the innovative research and community efforts that are breathing new life into centuries-old heritage . May this story remind us of the enduring bond between nature , history and our collective care .