Ace of Spades Gardens Ltd

31/08/2026

Tree which survived WW2 plane crash up for award

Ten of the UK's "toughest" trees, from an oak that survived a plane crash to a yew hit by a cannonball, have been shortlisted for this year's Tree of the Year award.

The Woodland Trust said its annual competition aimed to celebrate and raise awareness for rare, ancient, or at-risk trees across the country.

An oak tree in Rutland that was hit by a World War Two bomber - and a yew in Surrey which could be 4,000 years old and was struck by a cannonball in the English Civil War - are among the final 10 contenders for the title.

Read more:

Trees from Rutland, East Sussex, County Durham and Devon are all up for the prize.

27/08/2026

Have you ever seen such immense roots on an ash tree?

Meet our first public nominee of this year’s competition – the Balloch Castle Ash 🌳

This unique-looking veteran ash has shown incredible resilience throughout the years.

Believed to have survived a lightning strike, it has stood strong through a 1968 hurricane, multiple storms and now ash dieback 🌀

Despite facing all that hardship, it dominates the exposed lawn of the disused castle at Balloch Castle Country Park in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland 🏰

Standing steadfast , this tree remains as a backdrop to millions of visitors’ photos each year – including Oasis fans during a 1996 gig at the park.

Take a look at the rest of the nominees and vote for your favourite 👉 https://bit.ly/4xBlO8y

📸 Balloch Castle Country Park Regeneration Group

27/08/2026

2026 Drought: How Is It Affecting Trees in Norfolk? (Part 1)

Following an exceptionally dry spring and prolonged periods of hot, dry weather, the current drought is having a noticeable impact on trees and woody vegetation across the UK.

Here in Norfolk and the wider East Anglia region, prolonged dry conditions mean that many trees, hedges and shrubs are under considerable stress – and some of the consequences may not become fully apparent until next year or even later.

What are the signs of drought stress in trees?
Trees lose water naturally through their leaves in a process called transpiration. Under normal conditions, this water is replaced by moisture absorbed from the soil through the tree’s roots.

However, during prolonged dry weather, such as the current drought, there may not be enough available soil moisture to replace what is being lost.

Trees will then respond by attempting to conserve water and if the drought continues, the tree may begin sacrificing some of its foliage and branches to survive.

Read more on our latest blog at https://aceofspadesgardens.co.uk/trees-during-a-drought/

24/08/2026

'Don't sit under trees' alert as hot spell goes on

Visitors to a country park near Scunthorpe are being warned to avoid sitting, parking, or having picnics underneath trees with large branches.

The prolonged heat and dry weather has increased the risk of branches suddenly falling – even from trees that appear healthy and show no obvious signs of weakness.

"They're under a lot of stress at the moment," said Liam Dent, a parks and gardens officer at the 300-acre Normanby Hall Country Park.

"Due to a lack of water, the trees are basically going into survival mode. [They are] trying to protect the main trunk and [their] system. Any branches that are untoward or have cracks in them, they're just shedding them."

Read more:

Normanby Hall Country Park warns visitors about the dangers of branches falling unexpectedly.

20/08/2026

The Forestry Commission is extending the demarcated area (a zone where particular control measures are in place) for Sweet Chestnut Blight in Devon, and into a small part of Cornwall.

This follows further findings of the tree disease close to the current restricted zone boundary. The new area will come into force on Wednesday 26 August.

The expanded area subject to restrictions will now include West Devon District and South East Cornwall constituency. The extension follows continued surveillance work, which has confirmed additional infected sites with buffer zones that extend beyond the current area boundary.

Trading restrictions on sweet chestnut trees and other susceptible material will apply across the expanded area, to help prevent the further spread of this fungal disease through the movement of infected plants and material, and to help with disease management.

"Restricting the movement of susceptible material is one of the most effective tools we have to slow the spread of this disease," says Forestry Commission's Head of Plant Health Forestry, Andrea Deol.

"We would encourage the public to check their sweet chestnut trees and support the Check a Sweet Chestnut campaign. The compliance and cooperation we have already seen from forestry and trades has played a significant role in supporting our efforts so far."

Read more: https://tinyurl.com/FCChestnutBlight

Forestry Commission

20/08/2026

Now that we’ve moved into August and the bird nesting season is over, you may be looking at your garden hedging and realise that it probably needs trimming!

Our experienced team has a vast knowledge of the legislation in relation to hedge and boundary disputes, including guidance on the High Hedges Act 2005.

If you’re thinking of getting your hedge trimmed or even removed, we can help!

Find out more at https://aceofspadesgardens.co.uk/landscaping/ or call 01603 487447.

19/08/2026

Where most visitors see castles, characters and rides, Disneyland Paris quietly manages 33,000 trees and 330,000 shrubs as part of a vast living stage set, using imaginative arboriculture to tell stories, shape landscapes and push its environmental ambitions well beyond simple theme‑park planting.

17/08/2026

A false autumn arrives early this year 🍂

17/08/2026

HTA and BALI call for urgent action on water restrictions to protect UK green infrastructure

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) and the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) have written a joint letter to Emma Hardy MP - the Flooding and Water Minister, calling on the government to improve the way water restrictions are implemented and communicated. They warn that the current approach is harming businesses responsible for delivering and maintaining the UK’s green infrastructure, which is needed to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

The letter followed Southeast Water's introduction of a Temporary Use Ban after the recent spell of exceptionally hot weather. While the organisations recognise the need to conserve water during periods of shortage, they say the current approach risks undermining the very sector helping communities adapt to the UK’s extreme weather patterns.

Read more: https://hta.org.uk/news/hta-and-bali-call-for-urgent-action-on-water-restrictions-to-protect-uk-green-infrastructure via HTA News

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) and the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) have written a joint letter to Emma Hardy MP - the Flooding and Water Minister, calling on the government to improve the way water restrictions are implemented and communicated. They warn that the c...

14/08/2026