Our oldest row with trees, the Chestnuts near the station, was planted by Grandfather Sargantson of Fern Lea Nursery (Of the Square) for Mr Martinson all the New Hall, my guess would be around 1880 to 1890. Perhaps the ' conkers' along Church Walk date from the same time, for a photograph of the Church before the restoration of 1878, shows no trees.
Coming to trees planted in my lifetime; memory is not always reliable, so I consulted the parish council minute books now held in the archives at Grimsby Town Hall. As often happens, the ones of the late 1930s are missing but luckily, my sister has a card from Mr Booley, the then stationmaster, dated December 1937 which reads, "Of the tree for which you subscribed has been planted and is not but 16 on the right-hand side of Hollands Avenue pro seeding towards Thornton Curtis. Coronation Celebrations 12 May 1937". So we have a firm date for one of our avenues, with individuals buying trees to commemorate a national event.
The Limes on Horsegatefield From road are all the different variety, being Red Twigged Limes and have done very well; unfortunately, I have found no definite date for this planting. General opinion seems to be that the two of the 1937 time, others suggest they may be earlier to celebrate the Jubilee of King George V in 1935. Perhaps a Gander reader will be able to solve this puzzle?
After the war, in October 1946, the Parish Council approached the Toc H, the Women's Institute, the Food Production Society and the Rabbit Club inviting them to donate trees to provide future Avenues. Straightaway the WI agreed to do so, together with the Food Production Society who not only promised 25° but offered to supervise any future Labour for the future plantings.
Almost at once, and are Tree Planting Committee was formed by Mr S. Hepworth Parish Council Chairman as Chairman and the Parish Clerk Mr E.V. Cook as Secretary. Members were drawn from the various Village organisations, in particular the Food Production Society.
After consultation with the Lindsey District Council Surveyor, a start was made early in 1948 and by February 1948 a minute records that the trees have been planted. But what trees?! I suggested these were the White Cherries on Vaunting Road, to be quickly followed by the Pink Cherries alternating with the White Beams further on Very Road over the bridge.
On surer ground, on April 7, 1949 and minute records that the trees are now planted from the Crossed Roads to Milk Hill, these trees were Wheatley Elms. At the same meeting the Clerk reported "that's over Parish Council is not empowered to replace or maintain the trees and Avenues from Council funds." we don't change. Nothing on the rates!!
By October 1950, permission had been given for five trees in Thorn Lane, these would be the Red Hawthorns and probably those on the road west of the station would have been planted at the same time.
April 5, 1951, Gatehouse Road has been planted, again with Wheatley Elms and by February 1953 the Elm Avenue was extended to the Barrow boundary when a further 29 trees were planted.
Later the same year, the Tree Planting Committee or the two plaques. 1. One to be placed on the Gatehouse Road Avenue to commemorate the Festival of Britain 1951. 2. One on Barrow Road for the Coronation 1953.
That major planting was now accomplished apart from one are two of corners such as the Crab Apples and Red Horsechestnuts near the telephone kiosk at North End.
All the trees were provided by the villagers and Village organisations, for example, the Toc H Sales gave £15 & £10 and the Food Productions Society three donations of £25, £7-10-0 and £10, whilst at Public Collection in 1951 realised £6000. And there must have been many more.
In passing, the Food Production Society gave from their Annual Show and Sale £2,636-2-1 to a wide range of Charities during the period 1942 to 1956.
All the work of planting was not voluntarily with members of Toc H in particular, whilst Or four Gardens provided some expertise and a suitable mix of soil to give the trees a good start in life.
The last Avenue was along the road from the Gatehouse to this South End of Thorn Lane, consisting of a mix of Silver Birch, Rowans, Sugar Maples and a row of Crab Apples, this was done soon after Sam van den Bos held a Coffee Party to raise funds in May 1968.
Sadly, the first signs of tragedy appear in November 1975 when the Humberside County Forester finds two of the Barrow Road Elms with Dutch Elm Disease. Within three or four years all the Elm Trees had to be destroyed. Although the County offered to replace the Avenue, the Barrow Road residents opposed this and only the Gatehouse Slowed ones were replaced with Hornbeams.
Sam van den Bos received a letter of appreciation from the Parish Council in Sceptre in the 1976. He had tended to trees almost single-handedly the 25 years and was bitterly disappointed when Humberside insisted on taking over the total management of the Avenues.
At the moment, many of the trees are showing signs of stress due to the very low rainfall of recent years, particularly the Pink Cherries where the situation is not helped by the many suckers among them; the same situation holds along the Gatehouse Road where one can hardly find the Hornbeams.
We have a fine tradition of tree planting going back to the 19th century, may we hope that the new Authority, and we ourselves, will not be found wanting, to maintain this acid which makes our village rather special.