Park Langley Residents' Association
To promote and protect the interests of the residents of Park Langley
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Some useful contacts:
Bromey Councilwebsite: www.bromley.gov.uk
General email: csc@bromley.gov.uk
Telephone switchboard 020 8464 3333.
West Wickham Residents Association:
West Beckenham Residents Association:
www.westbeck.org.uk/
Horse Chestnuts in Park Langley
Horse chestnuts across southern and central England are being attacked by a pest that can cause the trees to lose many of their leaves in late summer. Far from being dead, though, the trees are probably still healthy.
The premature leaf loss is a result of horse chestnuts being infested with the larvae of Cameraria ohridella, or horse chestnut leaf miner, a moth that is spreading its wings across the southern half of England. The larvae mine within the leaves, which eventually shrivel and drop off as early as the middle of August.
The worry is that people will think about having the trees felled, when there might be no need.
Nigel Straw, a scientist with the Commission’s
Forest Research agency, is monitoring the spread of horse chestnut leaf miner.
He said:
“Infested
trees do not look pretty, but they are well able to withstand the damage, and
will reflush normally next year. And the owners of horse chestnut trees can help
to limit the effects of this pest by disposing of the leaves. In autumn, the
leaves can be collected and burned, or composted under 10cm (4 inches) of soil
or 15cm (6 inches) of other plant material. This should reduce the degree of
attack at the beginning of the next year and will help to maintain the health of
the tree.”
www.forestresearch.gov.uk.
History
Up until 1908, Park Langley was a landed estate. 700 acres were then sold by the Goodhart family for development by G & H Taylor whose guiding principle was to 'offer something beautiful, using good artists, materials and workmen'. The project specified spacious laid out detached houses, long curving roads, red brick pavements and much landscaping, using new ornamental trees while maintaining existing mature trees. A golf course was built centered on the old mansion which burnt down in 1913. This is now the site of the Langley Girl's school. Words from the 1914 sales brochure of H & G Taylor 'The old order of things, with street upon street of ugly houses, all of the same design and served often by the same key, causing the dwellers to become morbid, owing to the deadly monotony and sameness of outlook, is changing with the garden estate outlook.'
Under the heading 'Relics of past ages' it states 'Upon the estate is a very fine old barn with magnificent oak timbers and braces, which will be left standing, and it is hoped that ultimately it will be turned into a hall for dances and concerts, while retaining its old timbering and general appearance.'
