The Chapel County School, Bintree, Dereham, Norfolk, NR20 5LE
Mature chestnut tree (conked) , no longer growing, has once clearly been topped and subsequently grows in 5 separate bows, no central main trunk . Each bow carries an enormous weight , one main bow faces the chapel and should it detach , will cause substantial damage . Over the past 8 years we have had two large bows break in cross winds and fall. Fortunately no one injured . We had an arbicultural survey on the land two years back and his comments & opinion were that in his professional opinion this tree had been hacked at an early age and he felt would not be of such importance to keep. Removal of any one bow would unduly put excess weight on any one side . Our concern is threat to life during winds & obvious damage to the historic Chapel . The land is over populated with trees currently and within 15 meters of this tree there are 5 other trees inc oak vying for light & growth. To cut one allows the others better growth . Our preference is to pollard the tree to leave 3 meters of main trunk and allow it to regenerate. While we plant traditional oak on the land to offset.