Hardy Tropicals UK

A post Dell made in my Vidjo topic "Im like you, but i keep panicing think what it will be like in 30years when they are all huge.
Mind you by then i'l be 70 so i suppose the next family can worry about that lol."


Got me thinking.

1.Can you get a tree protection order on a Trachycarpus (any palm for that matter) once it reaches a mature height? They exist to protect rare large specimens , and a large Trachycarpus is certainly far rarer than an Oak tree i'd say in the UK

2. Whats your thoughts on what will happen to your trachys when you move house/leave this world? Are you in the school of "not bothered I won't be there to enjoy it, couldnt care less if it gets chopped" or "I spent many years looking after that palm from a nipper, I want it to be around for future generations, and i'd be mighty piffed if someone took a chainsaw to it" Do you care about its full lifespan beyond your care?

I would like to think people would leave them were they are, but why should they? I ripped every thing out of my garden when I moved to my present house 5 years ago! Why shouldn't every one else do the same? The garden is an extension of your own taste. A lot of people don't like palms, they don't fit there idea of an English garden. I shall still come back and haunt the person who digs my Jubs up though.

Im sure if you wanted too you could write a legal clause into your property deeds that says the palm must be left alone and protected from harm in perpetuity. Means paying a lawyer though which is never a good feeling

Another option is you could donate them to a collection/garden that will allow them to grow and others to admire them, saying that it may take some doing digging them up with a big mass of roots

When I die I won't know so won't care. Would be nice to think they would grow on but nothing lasts forever. Interesting to hear a solicitor can put something in place.

jungle jas wrote:I would like to think people would leave them were they are, but why should they? I ripped every thing out of my garden when I moved to my present house 5 years ago! Why shouldn't every one else do the same? The garden is an extension of your own taste. A lot of people don't like palms, they don't fit there idea of an English garden. I shall still come back and haunt the person who digs my Jubs up though.

tell Nigel about that. when he sold his house,he had some stunning palms in his front garden. the new owners didnt fancy them obviously and took them down,with a saw

As far as i'm aware only native trees can get a tree protection order.

greendragon wrote:As far as i'm aware only native trees can get a tree protection order.

I thought that, but I know of a Holm Oak (not native to UK) that has a TPO. As far as I have read any tree or group of Trees or woodland can get a TPO. Suppose it depends if a Trachycarpus is deemed a tree or a shrub. If it is a shrub then no TPO but if it is deemed a tree, then potentially it could get one. Would be interesting to see.

Holm Oaks are considered to be naturalized though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tr ... nd_Ireland

greendragon wrote:Holm Oaks are considered to be naturalized though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tr ... nd_Ireland

Naturalised does not mean native. The wikipedia link for Holm Oak says:

"Holm oak is damaging biodiversity in the United Kingdom, and is listed as an alien invader."

So hardly one for a TPO but I know of one that is.

Just looked in to TPO and they can cover Natives, Exotics, and fruit trees. Found the info on local government website. From another website I also found out you can request a TPO from the your local council.

I don't see why anyone would want to. It would just be another barrier in selling your home.

greendragon wrote:As far as i'm aware only native trees can get a tree protection order.

The mature Phoenix canariensis at Chelston in Torquay has a TPO on it

fern Rob wrote:Just looked in to TPO and they can cover Natives, Exotics, and fruit trees. Found the info on local government website. From another website I also found out you can request a TPO from the your local council.

It doesn't even have to be in your own garden. My parents put a TPO on a tree in a neighbours garden after a couple of others in the vicnity were cut down. My Dad thinks it is some kind of Sequoia.

A Trachycarpus fortunei can reach 50ft in it's lifetime, so I suppose it could become a feature of the local area. In that case many people may want it left alone if you sold up, or met your maker. When I used to deal with Planning applications for the Parish Council, TPOs could be applied to any tree with a 6", or more, trunk diameter.