The soil around the roots of each tree was so dry that (despite the recent rain) it would now take a lot of water to become hydrated. Your help is urgently needed to water any of these trees that you see. Even if they look nearly dead, with a lot of water they may come back to life. These trees were paid for by members of the public and local organisations.
A number of people have raised concerns and Bristol City Council has said that it will now water each tree twice a week. Some are in good shape – one sponsor has been watering her own tree.
Last year, the same thing happened and after six months of raising concerns with Bristol City Council, they said that last year’s problems would not happen again and watering would be sorted out for this year. Much of the cost of planting a new tree is to cover sufficient watering for the first couple of years.
Clearly, it is a terrible waste of trees, time and effort and upsetting for the sponsors for the trees to die. The Bristol Tree Forum will keep raising this problem so that future sponsors can be sure that their trees thrive and that dead trees from this year and last year’s plantings are replaced. A proper guarantee needs to be obtained for the future.
If you know anyone who sponsored one of these trees alert them and encourage them to water their own tree. If you see a new tree that is dead or dying please email us a location and photo.