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Roadside Trees Dying: A National Highways Failure?
14 Apr
Summary
- Thousands of trees died after A14 upgrade despite replanting efforts.
- Spring planting and hot summers blamed for widespread sapling deaths.
- New trials will use mychorizal, fertiliser, and mulch mats to aid survival.
National Highways has admitted to insufficient performance in its tree-planting initiatives, particularly following the completion of the A14 upgrade. Thousands of saplings planted between Cambridge and the A1 have perished since 2020, prompting a review and new trial methods. These failures have been partly attributed to planting occurring in spring, rather than optimal times, and exacerbated by hot summers. This situation is not isolated, with other regions also reporting high losses of newly planted trees.
Experts emphasize the importance of appropriate species selection for specific locations, proper ground preparation, and consistent aftercare, including watering and protection from wildlife. National Highways is now trialling new techniques such as using mychorizal fungi to enhance soil moisture, adding fertiliser for extra nutrients, and installing mulch mats to suppress weeds and retain moisture. These efforts aim to improve the success rate of future tree-planting projects along roadways.
