To allay any concerns about any wholesale loss of trees in the grounds of the District Council offices there are only two due to be felled this week:
The large beech tree, which is south of the eastern wing of the offices, was identified with a disease called Ganoderma, a fungus that is one of the most significant root and butt rotters. The fungus is prevalent at the base of the tree and there are signs of it extended up the trunk, which increases the chance of failure at root level and higher up the tree.
In anticipation of the tree needing to be felled, a number of years ago a replacement beech was planted nearby. The canopy of the replacement tree has now grown up to the diseased tree’s canopy. It is appropriate that the younger healthy replacement is not impaired by the older diseased tree as their branches converge, with the likelihood of an imbalanced canopy developing on the young tree.
A lime tree located at the south western side of the offices, which overhangs the car park will also be removed. The lime tree has been losing leaf cover for some time with significant deadwood posing a risk.
The tree felling work is weather dependent and will be delayed if there are high winds or heavy rainfall.