Trees on historic village green ‘at risk’

VILLAGERS are calling for a plan to safeguard a picturesque Teesdale village green for future generations.
The green in Gainford has long been a centrepoint in the village and once attracted the attention of Victorian photographer Elijah Yeoman.
It is lined by mature trees but the parish council is worried that many are now old and could be at risk of disease.
They hope to enter talks with the green’s owner, Raby Estates, to make sure the trees don’t die out without replacements.
Cllr Sarah Hannan told last week’s parish meeting: “We need to speak to Raby about the trees around the green. The majority are horse chestnuts and they are mature and coming to the end of their lives. There is also disease coming up from the south killing horse chestnuts. Has Raby got a plan so the green continues as it is?”
Horse chestnuts are vulnerable to diseases including bleeding canker, the leaf miner pest which arrived to the UK two decades ago and leaf blotch fungus.
Cllr Maire Kennan said: “What are they [Raby Estates] looking at in terms of replacing the trees?”
Parish councillors suggested oaks and other natives should be planted as well as horse chestnuts.
Cllr Hannan said: “Cherry trees are very pretty but they have a life of about 60 to 70 years.”
Parish chairman Cllr Andrew Wilkinson said: “Maybe the trees could be planted in time for the King’s Coronation.”
At the western end of the village green, lies a stone cross on a square base.
The base is thought to be medieval but the cross is Victorian and commemorates Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. The inscription states: “In thankful commemoration of the sixtieth anniversary of the accession of Queen Victoria on June 20th 1897. This cross was re-erected and trees planted on the green by the inhabitants of Gainford.”
Earlier the parish meeting heard that Raby Estates was responsible for the mature trees on the green but others, such as cherry trees planted by residents, fell under the parish council’s jurisdiction.