English Ivy (Hedera helix). Love it or hate it?

Have you noticed how much ivy is growing up trees in our hedgerows?
I personally don’t like to see ivy growing up mature trees as I think it ruins the beauty of the individual tree.

Ivy doesn’t have any detrimental effect on the tree other than smothering and weighing down smaller trees. In high winds, it will create more wind resistance and increase the likelihood of a sick tree blowing over. It can hide otherwise obvious disease to the trunk and branches. It doesn’t strangle or restrict the growth of a healthy tree.

Ivy has huge wildlife benefits, 50 or more species are associated with benefiting from its existence. It flowers in late summer, producing pollen and nectar late in the season, berries are a great food source for birds in the winter. Ivy makes for a great ground cover plant, I have planted of tens of thousands in Milton Keynes over the years. Plant and forget, it covers the ground and prevents any other plant growing through its dense leaf cover. It provides shelter for birds and other animals.

Its evergreen foliage is useful for flower arranging, home decoration etc

Its ok in the right place.

Here at Bell Plantation we are now working on the Courtyard path surfaces. We have a lovely smooth car park and lovely smooth concrete floors in the shop, the courtyard is bumpy and uneven. In early Jan ‘19 we will be putting a wearing course of tarmac over the existing re-aligned paths, we will then be smooth, smooth, smooth.

There is still a great selection of Christmas decorations and gifts, plus a few Christmas trees.

Father Christmas will be roaming around with us Sunday 1.00am – 4.30pm.

Have a great weekend

Ashley