UPDATE & NEWS OCTOBER 2005

New tree survey findings

Additional tree survey work (using a new ‘tomographic’ technique which allows the very accurate detection of internal decay) has provided good evidence that tree loss within The Walks tree avenues should not threaten their avenue ‘feel’ for another 15 to 25 years. On the basis of this, the Council will be talking with the Heritage Lottery Fund to postpone avenue replacement work for at least 15 years (subject to further regular surveys).

Essential public safety tree work

In the meantime, work on maintaining and keeping the trees in a safe condition across the whole park will of course continue.

From the internal decay survey and ongoing hazard detection there is some health and safety work on the trees which must be done immediately. This includes:

• the removal of dead wood and ‘crown’ reductions for several trees across the park;

• the felling of the Horse chestnut in front of the toilet block on the Broad Walk Extension. This tree is rendered very hazardous as it is suffering from very significant internal decay as the cross-sections below illustrate):

• the felling of the Sycamore which is growing under the wall along the north side of St. James End - if left this will cause the wall to collapse.

• Additional ‘tomographic’ survey work on potentially hazardous trees (non-avenue).

You should expect to see tree surgeons in The Walks in the coming weeks carrying out this essential maintenance work

Implementing the restoration plans

The Council is looking to start restoration work within the park in late Spring/early Summer next year. We will be continuing to work with historic landscape architects Scott Wilson on the project.

There is presently quite a lot of preliminary work to do to take the project from grant award to starting things on the ground and you can expect to see archaeologists, ecologists, architects and structural engineers finalising details within The Walks over the coming months.