Source: City of Plymouth
Work is continuing to progress at Trefusis Park, with contractor Kier making the best of the dry weather to start the earthworks.
Well before the project began and before bird-nesting started, we removed five pre-identified trees to make way for the scheme.
We hoped that this would be all that would be needed, but another recent survey has identified 12 trees along the western edge of the park that need maintenance, two ash trees showing signs of Ash Dieback that need to be removed and a London Plane at the northern end of the park that needs re-pollarding.
This work is required to enable Kier to operate their machinery safely while building the earthwork bunds and secondly, to protect the public from potentially unsafe branches when the park is reopened.
Here are the details:
Ash requiring removal, western edge of the park
This large ash tree is suffering from Ash Dieback and is leaning over the path and into the park. The arboricultural supervisor has advised that due to the extent of the infection and the amount of limbs that need to be removed the only practical option to manage the risk it presents is to fell this tree.
Ash requiring removal, near the sewer access
This smaller ash tree is growing out of a wall. It also has Ash Dieback and even if it didn’t, it’s growth would be limited by its position. It will also be removed.
London Plane, Northern entrance
This large specimen is a “lapsed pollard” tree, estimated to have last been pollarded (or trimmed like a street tree) around 20 years ago.
The arboricultural supervisor has advised that, because of its previous pollarding and the recent excavation works close to its roots, it should be sympathetically pollarded again in order to strengthen the limbs.
Trees requiring maintenance along western edge of the park
Lastly, some pruning of the lower limbs of 12 trees (crowning) is required for the construction team to be able to safely operate their earthworks machinery in the area along the western edge of the park and to allow for future safe use of the new paths.
Some branches will need to be removed from trees to allow for clearance of between 2.5m and 5m from ground level.
The maintenance works and the felling of the two ash trees will take place from 21 July under the watch of the scheme’s arboricultural supervisor and an ecologist.
Work will cease (or perhaps not even begin) at the slightest hint of bird activity.
The London Plane is currently being risk assessed by the arboriculturist and the pollarding work will then be scheduled.
We know this is disappointing news. No one wants to lose trees, but in this case, to ensure that the scheme can be constructed safely and that we solve the flooding issues in Lipson Vale, we have had to make the tough choice.
The Trefusis Park Flood Relief Scheme remains a nature positive project and was previously re-designed to save almost 100 mature trees.
The finished project will include new wildlife-rich habitats, including the planting of new trees and hedgerows as well as a new amenity pond, giving residents more opportunities to connect with nature.