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There's a strip of land beyond my garden fence that I'm considering putting some fruit trees.
The land is approx 3m deep and maybe 10m wide, 10m wide again to the side of my garden. Beyond this strip there is a footpath that is popular with dog walkers, access to allotments. Beyond the path is a small river.
Other gardens nearby already use this space for shrubs, lavender, brambles, etc. so there's precedent. The council come and mow the grass a few times a year.
I quite fancy planting some fruit trees in this space. They may get damaged, it is a public space. They may provide fruit and enjoyment for us and for passers by and for birdlife. They might also help pollinate the trees going in the garden 😀
So uh, unless you have nightmare stories about being prosecuted for similar or suggestions as to what variety of plum or damson I should plant I guess I'm not really asking for any input...
Go for it.
The Queen does this kind of shit all the time.
She's never done randomly planting trees all over the shop.
Legally it's enchroachment to just pop some stuff in there.
The landowner might ask you to remove the trees. But they can't damage them.
Unless they obtain a court order for their forced removal.
Theoretically you could ask permission to plant there, however, in reality, the local precedent demonstrates the council likely have bigger fish to fry. In this case I can't imagine the council will turn up and uproot your trees.
I don't know anything about the legality of this, however I think it's a splendid idea.
This is also the best time of year to plant trees.
Greengage would get my vote - there is nowt better ripe and straight from a tree.
go for it
A friend of mine was once "spoken to" by the police for planting trees on an embankment of the M62. But that's a different matter.
They'll need to be big enough that they can't be mown over.
if you do it properly the guys with the mowers might think the work's been done by another section of the council.
They’ll need to be big enough that they can’t be mown over.
if you do it properly the guys with the mowers might think the work’s been done by another section of the council.
I'm going to stake them up properly so they can't be pushed over too easily, but sounds popular, think I'll give it a go, thanks for the encouragement.
Some dude plants apple trees on an ex- landfill dog walkie site near me. It's ace.
I’m going to stake them up properly so they can’t be pushed over too easily, but sounds popular, think I’ll give it a go, thanks for the encouragement.
Good plan, just don't ask permission. It'll only draw it to the attention of some jobsworth. There's bound to be some bylaw against such activity 🙁
If it's genuinely Common Land then there is no owner by definition. Possibly a Wildlife Trust with guardian responsibilities, any dispute goes straight to Defra i think.
Do you know for sure who owns it? You might be surprised. Could well be “orphaned”.
Not plum, too susceptible to disease IME.
I'd go with apple trees (and accept it may be 10 years before they fruit in any real quantity). then plant around them with fruit bushes (gooseberry, red/white/black currants) which apart from pruning the >2yr old growth out of them each winter are almost entirely resilient.
If it’s genuinely Common Land then there is no owner by definition.
Not so.
There's a patch of genuine common land right next to my house and it is owned by the farm just down the road. Another one not far away is owned by another farm, with sets of grazing rights (sheep / cows / horses) going to other farmers. There is a quango which manages the grazing rights for these and assorted other local patches.
Common Land most definitely can have owners; but it also has rights (e.g. grazing, public access) and clauses (e.g. can't build on it, must maintain gates) attached to its ownership.
If no private owner, The Crown.
OP where do you live?
I don't mind helping out. We'll plant them in the dark then no-one will complain.
3 years ago our small town planted a community orchard with dwarf trees and bushes. It is fabulous. Blossom in the spring, fruit in late summer and gorgeous leaf colours late autumn. This is planted on a large council owned recreational ground.
A woman that lived opposite complained that it spoilt her view. Some people!.
I stand corrected mrmonk! Its a complex area to be sure.
I've planted a 4ft sycamore which was growing in a silly place in our garden and a similar size conifer which had outgrown it's pot on some nearby common land and have had no problems as a result.
I'd say plant freely though some will get strimmed. If it's actual common land its yours to play with.
We've sharpened a walking stick to use as a divot. Prod the stick in the ground, drop in a native tree seed/nut, stamp the hole shut & no one even knows your saving the planet 😁.
We have a reverse situation - land behind house was a school football pitch, but no longer used. It's occasionally mown by the council, but I go over twice a year to keep the brambles down as they would overtake my garden. No-one has said anything.
I love a bit of guerilla gardening, as long as it's not invasive. Someone near me has plants border flowers in that small patch underneath a street signs that is usually gets sprayed with weedkiller
Without advertising precisely where I live, the site being discussed is this strip of land
My garden is backing on to the river, there is also the strip beyond the adjoining gardens and the car park to play with.
Bunnyhop, this is in North East England:-)
Go for it, trees good, apples good, happy days.