AERATION , IRRIGATION & DRAINAGE he Joseph Rowntree
T Foundation ( JRF ) is an independent social change organisation working to solve UK poverty . The founder , Joseph Rowntree , of the famous York sweet manufacturing family , was a visionary Quaker businessman and social reformer . The origins of the organisation ’ s financial resources lie in a major donation of shares in the original Rowntree Company he gifted in 1904 . In the same year , Joseph ’ s son , Seebohm made available fields behind his Homestead House to children attending York Elementary Schools for outdoor activities . Today , at just under 15-acres , Homestead Park is a beautiful garden owned , managed and maintained by JRF for visitors to enjoy . There are various tree-trail walks around the park and the heavy footfall over time has led to severe compaction and waterlogging , causing the trees to suffer .
“ The areas had never been aerated ,” says Senior Gardener Paul Sarginson , “ and we were finding the semi-mature cherry trees , around a hundred of them , as well as the mature chestnut and mature oak trees were becoming distressed . Terrain Aeration were recommended to us for their deep aeration treatment and they came to
us for two half-days in October to do the work .”
Terrain Aeration ’ s Tree Division , headed by David Churchyard , has been formed out of the company ’ s work over twenty-five years of treating trees in all types of situation , from back gardens to large estates right through to Royal Parks . Trees may become stressed as a result of a number of factors such as nutrient shortages in the soil , surface compaction due to foot traffic and
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Breaking up the soil around the roots , and beyond , means that excess water will drain away from the roots to help stop anaerobic conditions and rotting of the root system .
GroundskeepingJournal . co . uk | January / February 2023 37