Hi, we have been given permission to fell a large horsechestnut now considered to be unsafe. That permission has been granted with the condition that we replace it with a 6-9ft Hornbeam. Any ideas as to where we might purchase such a tree and who might plant it for us?

We are in the North West of England, south Manchester.

Many thanks, hope you can help.

I expect you should be able to find a tree nursery near to you if you 'google' , but here is one link. Welcome to Majestic Trees - Majestic Trees

Here's another link tree-shop.co.uk - Hornbeam tree

Hornbeams are widely used for hedging so should be cheaply and widely available.

If planted as a specimen, rahter htan densely in a hedgerow, they are pretty fast growing. It will be 6-9ft fairly quickly even if you put it in smaller one, and give it some food and water. If they are being anal about it being 6-9 ft when planted, you could buy a small one and grow it on in a container until it is 6-9ft and then plant it, but it will establish better if planted smaller.

Who should plant it, why you. Dig a hole and chuck it in, that's about it really. Do it during the dormant season, and make sure the roots are well spread, untangle them if potbound. You can get them bare-rooted in winter.

Councils are inclined to make ridiculous restrictions about plants you must plant. For example my parents were required to plant a hedgerow along a fence line as negotiated agreement for some planning thing. They tried to specify the exact composition of the hedge and also specify a specific contractor should plant it (probably the planning inspector's brother), but such are unreasonable requirements, and they were able to insist that they should be able to plant it themselves, of small plants, and a less restrictive description of the species mix: they didn't want a high proportion of hawthorn, nor any blackthorn, for example, in their garden.

Is there any reason they have specified hornbeam? If there's something else you'd prefer, why not fight for it? Hornbeam's is native and common as muck around here (often mistaken for beech so frequently overlooked), no showy flowers, whereas a horse-chestnut is a non-native decorative specimen with showy flowers. Why not replace it with another decorative specimen if that is what you want. I don't see why they should tell you exactly what.

I would have thought if they learned another way it was unsafe, they'd be at your door instructing you to cut it down. But when you tell them, they make you beg to be allowed to and instruct you what to replace it with, cheeky wotsits.

"adam-alexander" wrote in
message ...

The Salad;937405 Wrote:
Hi, we have been given permission to fell a large horsechestnut now
considered to be unsafe. That permission has been granted with the
condition that we replace it with a 6-9ft Hornbeam. Any ideas as to
where we might purchase such a tree and who might plant it for us?

We are in the North West of England, south Manchester.

Many thanks, hope you can help.

I expect you should be able to find a tree nursery near to you if you
'google' , but here is one link. 'Welcome to Majestic Trees - Majestic
Trees' (http://tinyurl.com/3ryhwwb)

Don't bother with 'Majestic Trees'. I am currently designing a garden for a
new hospital. looking to source mature trees for planting next March. I
contacted Majestic Trees a month ago, only to discover that they were 'too
busy to bother with my order'. I suppose that a £2500 order is too small for
them to get out of bed for!

Try Helen Carvery at -
She is most helpful and they will certainly have what you want.

Phil
(Northern Highlands of Scotland)

On 9/23/2011 4:41 PM, Phil Gurr wrote

Don't bother with 'Majestic Trees'. I am currently designing a garden for a
new hospital. looking to source mature trees for planting next March. I
contacted Majestic Trees a month ago, only to discover that they were 'too
busy to bother with my order'. I suppose that a £2500 order is too small for
them to get out of bed for!

Not Migdale Hospital, by any chance?

"S Viemeister" wrote in message
...
On 9/23/2011 4:41 PM, Phil Gurr wrote

Don't bother with 'Majestic Trees'. I am currently designing a garden for
a
new hospital. looking to source mature trees for planting next March. I
contacted Majestic Trees a month ago, only to discover that they were
'too
busy to bother with my order'. I suppose that a £2500 order is too small
for
them to get out of bed for!

Not Migdale Hospital, by any chance?

Got it in one!

Phil