Committee Planting Of Wildlife-Friendly Small Trees And Shrubs On Site

It was resolved at the last Committee meeting, that the planting of low-maintenance, visually-pleasing subjects at various locations on the PPA site would bring benefits to pollinators and to other wildlife. Suitable specimens would ideally have long flowering seasons, bear fruit, be shade-tolerant, and be slow-growing or only reach a modest final height.

Hypericum Hidcote – St. John’s wort, has a very long flowering season and is strongly attractive to beneficial insects. It also provides shelter beneath for larger animals.

Elder – the fragrance of midsummer, with berries and nesting places for birds.

PPAA will carry out a costing for sourcing suitable subjects, but are there plot holders whose gardens are becoming overcrowded by maturing shrubs, and who would be willing to donate some of them for this purpose, rather than to throw them away when it comes to rationalising their plantings?

Fuchsia riccartonii – very long flowering, hardy, shade-tolerant and fruit-bearing

It must be emphasised, that owing to the very limited volunteer effort available for maintenance, such plantings can’t be of fast-growing subjects, which attain a large final height such as blackthorn, and so on. Items with viciously-injurious thorns are also unsuitable for obvious reasons. The plantings also need to be capable of being classed as shrubs rather than trees in any case, since neither tenants nor the Association are permitted to plant the latter without Council consent.

Elder cultivar “black lace” – all the benefits of wild elder with an attractive foliage and flower colour.

No doubt this – what can only be described as pleasant – conversation will continue, and PPAA – here’s their contact page – would gratefully welcome any offers for help, donations of suitable small trees and shrubs, or whatever!