Neighbourly Skills: Streetwise: Martin, Steve, Dimitri+Dave

Featured Image: Streetwise’s Dimtri reducing epicormic growth on Highfield Road West Bridgford Thursday 15th August 2024

In 2023/24 Streetwise Rushcliffe Borough Council, established thirty-five years ago (as their Facebook page notes) was re-integrated back into Rushcliffe Borough Council, along with its income from external customers such as ViaEM

In West Bridgford we see Streetwise Rushcliffe working on hedgerows, grass banks for organisations such as Via).

Epicormic growth is a plant response to damage or stress where new shoots from epicormic buds that lie dormant beneath the bark and shoot out:

Above: Streetwise’s Dave and epicormic growth

Epicormic growth less that 20mm is usually pruned, always avoiding damage to tree bark. Growth greater than 20mm as above is cut to avoid harm to the ridge and collar of the branch bark ridge.

Causes can be sudden environmental change, thinning, crown die- back, heavy pruning, root death, cold, change in the water table

Below: Streetwise’s Martin Thornton Rugby Road (nearly done) and Steve Smith (final touches)

Martin and Steve have great skills: Martin (now nearly in his seventieth year) worked as a huntsman for fourteen years and now as well as his groundwork for Rushcliffe for Streetwise, works part time for Arena Race Courses (ARC), Steve too is full of knowledge, skills and experience: a qualified electrician and Asbestos Surveyor: much to offer.

Dimitri, Dave, Martin and Steve are the remarkables in the everyday I realised because they’ve chosen to develop skills, to provide services and the organisations they work with and through employ and work for people from all backgrounds, all ages. I think this to and fro, this reciprocity, means they’re learning all the time and have the skills and experience to be able to do much more than the basic job.

They add a good will and energy to the streets they work in.

Cheers!