| Proposal | Application for works to three willow trees in the grounds of Gosberton House School, 11 Westhorpe Road, Gosberton. The trees are adjacent to the northern boundary with 5 Sycamore Cottage, Park Close and are within Area One of Gosberton Tree Preservation Order No 13 1988.
Trees T1-T2 as marked on the plan attached to the notification (please note corrected plan), were previously pollarded and have regrown. T3 has grown with a very open canopy and requires pruning back before it splits.
The application was originally to remove all trees. Following on site discussions,as an alternative it was suggested that the trees may be reduced back and retained for wildlife interest. T1 and T2 could be repollarded and T3 could be cut back by at least two thirds, or coppiced.(Access to study the bases, and all sides of the trunks of the trees was not possible on 3.2.2014, due to the water level).If saved for wildlife to live in, for example woodpeckers, lesser stag beetles, bats, even squirrels, the ivy may have to be controlled while the trees regenerate to prevent the new shoots from being smothered. If the trees reach the stage of decay when they are covered with fungal fruiting bodies which are spreading their spores everywhere;then in the interest of the healthy trees in the area, it would be prudent to remove those that are diseased, or at least remove the fruiting bodies to reduce potential infection.
Two alternatives: either reduce and retain or fell. |