How do we maintain our trees?

The Council actively maintains its trees to ensure they are healthy and free from damage.  How we prune a tree depends on the tree's location and the species of tree. Pruning may often only involve removing the lower branches to increase clearance for pedestrians and vehicle traffic, and/or cutting back the branches from adjacent buildings.

No tree is removed unnecessarily but when a tree is felled, it is usually undertaken where public safety is at risk.  Before a tree is removed, our contractors Gristwood and Toms will carry out an assessment for nesting birds and bats which are protected by law and have produced a Wildlife Policy:

• Gristwood and Toms Wildlife Policy (.pdf 718KB)

Where the tree has been managed as a pollard i.e cut back at mid height, re-pollarding will be undertaken as a matter of course.