Benefits of being a tree warden
Tree warden training programme
The Importance of trees
Trees are vital to an urban area like Waltham Forest. They add colour to the landscape, enhance parks and open spaces, encourage birds and other wildlife, provide shade and reduce noise and atmospheric pollution.
The screening that trees can provide and the visual pleasure that they can give are valuable assets that should be protected. Trees are particularly vulnerable to damage during construction works and special measures are normally necessary to protect them.
The Council recognises the importance of protecting, maintaining and adding to the tree stock in Waltham Forest.
You can help
Local people, community groups and schools can get involved in the planting, care, maintenance and protection of trees.
The Council, with the aid of the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV), are setting up a Tree Warden Scheme within the Borough. It will promote public awareness of the importance of trees.
The scheme encourages people to enrol as Tree Wardens. They will learn about all aspects of trees, including the role of the Tree Wardens, tree identification, tree biology, the basics of the law relating to trees, tree health and how they can help maintain, care for and protect trees.
Free training will be provided at a series of seminars, organised by BTCV and the Council.
The Tree Warden Scheme is designed to utilise the energy, enthusiasm and local knowledge of local people in caring for trees.
Tree Wardens have no special powers or authority, and are NOT directly responsible for maintaining local trees. The amount of time they spend-on their duties is entirely up to them, and their patch can be as big or small as is wished e.g. - from a tree outside their house, to a whole street or even bigger area. They can get as involved as much as they wish to - it really is up to Wardens themselves.
What can tree wardens do?
- Gather information
- Report vandalism and accidental damage to trees
- Recognise, monitor and report diseases and their spread
- Encourage the watering of trees
- Act as a local contact for Council Officers
- Encourage practical projects, such as tree planting and the care of trees
- Tell other people about the benefits of trees and their care
- Monitor trenching work near trees
- Organise tree-planting days, tree walks and other tree-related activities such as tree dressing
Tree Wardens are the first point of contact to help the Council look after trees in the Borough.
Benefits of being a tree warden
- Tree Wardens will be trained by experts and will be able to pass on knowledge to other people
- Being a Tree Warden is an interesting and satisfying pastime
- It is an opportunity to meet and discuss tree-related issues with other local people interested in trees
- Tree Wardens will be doing something positive to protect or improve their local environment
How To become a tree warden
If you, or any other residents, are interested in becoming a Tree Warden, then Waltham Forest Council would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact us at the address below.
Tree warden training programme
The tree warden scheme is an opportunity for people that are interested in trees to come along to sessions and learn about them Tree Wardens do not need to be experts, only motivated and enthusiastic about the trees in Waltham Forest.
All sessions will be held at Lloyd Park Theatre Lounge, Lloyd Park. Lloyd Park is on Forest Road, Walthamstow (entrance where Winns Terrace meets Winns Avenue). All sessions will start at 10am and finish at approximately 3.30pm. For sessions that include a field trip finishing times may increase to 4.30pm.
Contact the Tree Section to confirm the current situation.
Contact us
Green Space Service
Environment and Regeneration
Low
Hall
Argall Avenue
London
E10 7AS
Tel 020 8496 3000
Email wfdirect@walthamforest.gov.uk
