Hilly Fields tree wreckage

Courtesy of Fred Pearce

Brockley is a Green Zone at the moment, with trees down all over SE4 as a result of this morning's storm. Fred sent us this photo of a fallen mature tree in Hilly Fields. Up to four Hilly Fields trees have been reported lost by BC readers today.

Lewisham Council also confirms that "Ladywell & Brockley Cemetery is closed today because of fallen and unsafe trees."

Storm disrupts Brockley transport services

@BBCLondonNews Tree down in Brockley. pic.twitter.com/6vvuZQE3iL
— Michelle Price (@michelleaprice) October 28, 2013

At least they're being realistic. National Rail Enquiries reports that due to this evening's anticipated storms, there will be no Overground services and possibly no Southeastern trains tomorrow morning before 9am. Southern is also expected to be operating a reduced timetable.

"After this, it is expected that a normal service will resume on all routes." Although of course, that normal service is likely to be playing catch-up for a long-time afterwards, as delayed commuters swamp the trains.

With thanks to Monkeyboy for the warning.

UPDATE (07.52): Southeastern are not currently able to run train services due to the risk of trees falling onto the railway lines, damage to equipment and localised flooding. Southeastern expect to run a reduced service later this morning, with many routes not starting until after 09:00.

UPDATE (08.13): John Higginson has tweeted this photo of a cherry tree, blown over in Manor Avenue.

UPDATE (08.18): The Old Kent Road is closed-off near Asda (reportedly due to wind blowing over a crane on a building site), which is bad news if you're trying to bus in.

UPDATE (09.25):

@themostsearched Tree down outside Old Police Station. No trains until 10.15am & even that is an estimate... pic.twitter.com/Yf3ATFnYY9
— Laura Prior (@LauraPrior) October 28, 2013

Tree down

Lynn: Who’s upset you this time?
Alan: Just, people. I just hate the general public.
- I'm Alan Partridge

A newly-planted tree in Brockley Cross has been snapped in two. We must not let sub-human scum put us off tree-planting. More trees, not fewer.

UPDATE: As you can see from the comments section, there has been a spate of these attacks across the area. The Evil Dead had the right idea.

With thanks to Monkeyboy for the photo.

The Hilly Fields memorial tree

The Friends of Hilly Fields are raising money to pay for a memorial tree for former park keeper Keith Seabrook and anyone visiting tomorrow's Midsummer Fayre is welcome to donate. Rachel writes:

We had a few people wanting to contribute to the flowers, but didn't take them up on the offer, and thought it would be a longer lasting legacy to Keith to plant a tree.  There are envelopes in the Hilly Fields cafe for anyone who would like to donate - you can hand it to a member of staff.  We intend to plant the tree in November.

The tree will be the first that we plant as part of a bigger tree planting strategy to ensure a lasting tree legacy in the park. We'll have the outline of the tree strategy on our stall at the Midsummer Fayre. We'll also have our regular Hilly Fields Quiz (not sure how obtuse it will be this year, as I've not seen the questions, should I be worried), prizes donated by our park cafe, thanks to Ruth and Fred or a Hilly Fields mug.

Jubilee Tree for Hilly Fields

George: It never ends, this present stuff! Engagement present! Then they get married, you gonna have to get them something for that! Then the baby, there's another present. Then the baby starts getting their presents. I don't even like Drake.
- Seinfeld

Time for another Jubilee bauble. BrocSoc writes:

22 May - gather from 12.45pm at the cafe on Hilly Fields, where we will be planting the Jubilee Tree donated by the Tree Council at Hilly Fields. Meet at the café from 12.45pm.

Students from Prendergast school will come out at 1.15pm for the ceremony.  Several people from the Brockley 50+ Club, which meets at Brockley Social Club, will share some memories of the Coronation with us and then they and the students  will plant the tree.

This is a prestigious occasion for Brockley as there will be only 60 trees throughout the country to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. A digital record of all 60 plantings will be presented to Her Majesty in June. The tree itself will have a smart plaque which will be readable from smartphones.

Please do join us -- Brockley Society tree officers, Friends of Hilly Fields, Seniors, and Prendergast School students -- for this special occasion.

Conway bites dog

When a dog bites a man, that is not news, because it happens so often. But if Conway finishes a job satisfactorily, however small, that is news.

Still no sign of the new zebra crossings in Brockley Cross, but by god, that is a tree - and Conway has successfully planted it. Unless someone else did - and they probably did, but Conway dug the bloody hole, you can't take that away from them! And there's another one next to it too. Two trees in only two years.

Also on the subject of street trees, local group Brockley Street Trees reports that "thirteen new trees will be planted in the conservation area to replace many street trees removed last summer due to disease. These have all been match-funded with local residents contributing 50% of the cost, and Lewisham Council the other 50%."

In March, the group is also planting 70 metres of fruit hedge in Hilly Fields. If you'd like to join them, full details here. With thanks to Monkeyboy for the photo.