Witham Tree Group

02/10/2026

We were still out watering yesterday, I think that this is the first time we have watered into October, but it is still so dry.

While watering near Spa Road we noticed how well the Aspens were growing and then noticed the constriction in the trunk where it was supported. So we cut the cages down on the two main trees and removed the bands. They should improve quickly, hopefully.

Coincidentally, one of the London Planes outside Morrisons has a jubilee clip holding a sign that needed adjusting a long time ago.

25/09/2026

We were still out watering yesterday. It is still very dry and warm. Richard was not there to guide us, so we are still trying to work out if we missed any!

I think that we will be watering into October this year...

Pipe between the pump and the bowser managed to spring 2 leaks, hence the gaffer tape as a temporary repair. Another repair job to do!

11/09/2026

It was Thursday so, yes, we were out watering as usual. It was good to see most of the grass greening up after the recent rain, but our trees need so much more.

Picture of volunteers filling watering cans during the first bowser filling before scattering around Witham to water trees.

03/09/2026

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce3r0kv9669o
See these BBC article with a picture of our esteemed chairman watering at the Rosebay play area (I think).

Barry Fleet says it has been a "punishing" summer for trees in his Essex town.

03/09/2026

We were out watering again today, but down to our usual 3 bowser loads.

A picture os volunteers waiting to fill just after the refilledbowser arrives at the Rickstones Recreation Ground.

27/08/2026

We were out watering again. Starting and finishing in the dry, but a bit damp in between. Only 2 bowser loads today as it was raining, though we need a lot more rain to really help. Probably we will be complaining about the terrible rain storms this winter soon!

No photo as I forgot to take a picture of rain sodden volunteers drinking coffee just before the rain stopped again.

13/08/2026

It is Thursday so we were out watering again. An early start at 8.30am with a full bowser and lots of watering cans to try and get trees that needed it watered on ghe Memorial Park. Some are really struggling despite being in the ground for several years.

We also watered older trees on the cyclepath and at Templars as, again, some are struggling.

Another photo of some rather cruspy trees at the Memorial Park.

06/08/2026

Another hot, dry Thursday. The trees are suffering still. We wztered again with a bowser load for the Memorial Park, but this was not quite enough so we ended up with a 5th bowser part load. This did not include various trees that we also noticed were suffering.

And next week, we will need to do it all again...

Almost synchronised watering beside the road to the cemetery.

30/07/2026

It is getting dryer and dryer. Although the temperature is slightly lower, we (and our trees and gardens) desperately need a prolonged period of rain, even if those on summer holidays don't.

We were out again, but started early so we could add another bowser load for the Memorial Park on the beginning of our usual watering round, so today was a 4 bowser run. (4000ltrs).

Despite our efforts our trees are struggling. Even some of the whips we planted are dying despite being watered every week.

Photo of the watering of the very brown and crispy Memorial Park.

23/07/2026

It is Thursday so it is tree watering day! The usual 3 bowser loads poured down the tubes and watered onto our trees. Some of the Paulwonias by the Cemetery are looking good. A view of us watering trees on the lower cyclepath. The brown grass gives an indication of how dry it is.