Welcome to Acklam 2020
Project: Acklam Hall Estate Regeneration - Tree Renewal
This project was financed by grants from the Cleveland Community Foundation
and Middlesbrough Environment City. We are grateful to the officers of
both of these organisations for their help and support for this and for
other projects.
Background
The successful Woodland Project commenced in 1999, constructed a substantial
permanent path through local woodland, built bat boxes to promote wildlife, produced
a leaflet promoting the Acklam area and conducted a tree survey in East Wood.
It was decided by the group on completion of that project to seek further funding
to continue with further regeneration of the Acklam Hall Estate. This area covers the bulk
of the Acklam Ward.
When doing the necessary research to produce the Leaflet on the History
of Acklam, we discovered old maps and aerial photographs showing in more
detail how the original estate must have looked. It was evident that a
large number of mature trees had been destroyed in the development of the
area as we know it today. It was also obvious from the tree survey that
many of the present trees are around 200 years old and beginning to show
signs of their great age. Action was needed if woodland of any size is
to be retained for the future.
Acklam Hall - The threatened trees are on the right. This picture was
taken before the planting.
Tree Restoration:
It was then that we sought funding from Cleveland Community Foundation
and Environment City to launch this project. Many trees had been felled
in the 1960's when the two new teaching blocks had been built. This area
became the focus of our planting plans. As a Beech tree and a Cedar are
known to be diseased and due for felling, it seemed appropriate that those
species should be the first to be replaced, preferably on the site from
which trees had been removed. Permission was obtained from the landowners,
Middlesbrough Council and Middlesbrough College, and Middlesbrough Planning
Department were consulted. Claire Gallagher of Groundwork, Middlesbrough
assisted us with our plans. Lis Langton, Project Officer with Middlesbrough
Council was also closely involved, as we needed her specialist arboreal
qualifications. Tenders were sought and BTCV were contracted along with
Cleveland Land Services to do the planting.
The Planting:
April 9th (2002) was selected for the planting. BTCV arrived at 9.30 am
to dig the holes and were followed closely by the contractors with the
trees. Lis had carefully selected the site, although we had an initial
drawback when we hit the foundations of the old KMS building. Although
it was thought that the demolition contract had required foundations to
be removed it appeared that this had not happened. It was therefore decided
to move the location nearer to the pond. Permission had to be obtained
from the college for this change of plan. The trees were planted to form
a small cluster to give maximum visual effect both from the road and from
the Hall itself. The Fire Brigade (Red Watch) watered in the trees.
The Ceremony:
Lucy Morrell, the youngest member of Acklam 2020, performed the ceremony
to complete this event, supported by members of Acklam 2020, friends and
representatives from other environmental agencies. The Chairman, Peter
Williams, thanked all who had made the project possible. A short and informal
gathering at followed this ceremony to mark the occasion.
