HORNIMAN MUSEUM AND GARDENS, 100 LONDON ROAD, LONDON, SE23 3PQ
Works to 14x trees within Nature Trail from south (Wood Vale/London Rd) to north (Langton Rise): 9xfells to safe standing height/ habitat poles/stumps, 4x:re-pollard, 1xlateral reduction: South end Nature Trail (Wood Vale nr London Rd):FRONT (Wood Vale): ONE Ash (T020)(ht.12m) FELL. Reason: tree is leaning dangerously over Wood Vale. Crown reduction will be a short-term solution, the angle of the tree over a high volume traffic area will always be an issue.FRONT (Wood Vale): ONE Ash (T022)(ht.9m) FELL. Reason: tree has died. Will be replaced by a habitat friendly or pollinator friendly tree.Mid-section Nature Trail (north Gardens, nr old boating lake/footpath junction):SIDE (nr boating lake): ONE Sycamore (T035)(ht.9m) FELL. Reason: tree has died. Will be replaced by a habitat friendly or pollinator friendly treeSIDE (N.Trail/rear gdns): ONE Sycamore Coppice (G003)(ht.18m) FELL/LOW COPPICE. Reason: old coppice, with tall poles, has a large cavity with extensive decay, multiple stems with poor unions. Replacement with large canopy tree, such as sessile oak.SIDE (N.Trail/rear gdns): ONE Sycamore (T036)(ht.12m) FELL. Reason: decayed base, Kretzschmaria deusta (brittle cinder decay fungus), Will be replaced by a habitat friendly or pollinator friendly tree.North section Nature Trail (between Wood Vale /Westwood Park):SIDE (N.Trail/rear gdns): ONE Oak (T045)(ht.12m) FELL. Reason: large wound in old stem bole, tree is in poor condition, retain safe old stem bole. Will be replaced by a habitat friendly or pollinator friendly tree, replacement oak preferred.SIDE (N.Trail/rear gdns): ONE Lombardy Poplar (T009)(ht.22m) LOW POLLARD/FELL. Reason: tree has a large cavity in the main stem leaving less than 30% holding wood. Sounding hollow. It overhangs three gardens and is considered extremely hazardous. A PICUS test will be undertaken in early Jan 2024 before final decision is made - low pollard management preferred to safe height.SIDE (N.Trail/rear gdns): TWO Sycamore (T015,T016)(ht.14m,ht.12m) FELL. Reason: trees are dead. Will be replaced by a habitat friendly or pollinator friendly trees. North end Nature Trail (Langton Rise): FRONT (Langton Rise): TWO Ash pollards (T010,T042)(ht.16m) RE-POLLARD by 9m from 16m to 7m. Reason: low vigour in crown and crown dieback.FRONT (Langton Rise): ONE Ash (T012)(ht.18m) LATERAL REDUCTION on the E compass point 1x long over extended lateral. Reason: overhanging gardens, long branch has a high risk of failure.FRONT (Langton Rise): ONE Ash pollard (T040)(ht.18m) RE-POLLARD by 11m from 18m to 7m. Multiple stems with poor unions and cavities. High risk of failure.FRONT (Langton Rise): ONE Ash pollard (T038)(ht.18m) RE-POLLARD by 11m to ht.7m. Reason: multiple stems, poor unions, cavities, high risk of failure.All tree works in the gardens have been raised in an audit carried out by Hayden's Arboricultural Consultants. The tree surgery works proposed are recommended to mitigate health & safety issues and promote longevity in retained trees. Various species of trees have been proposed as replacements for felled trees.Informative A: duty to replace 4x dead trees applies (T015,T016,T022,T35), replacement species: 1 each: sessile oak, hornbeam, field maple, wild cherry; ref. the landowner has a duty to plant a replacement tree when a tree in a conservation area is removed because it is dead, para 121 Tree Preservation Orders and trees in conservation areas, government guidance 6 March 2014. Informative B: proposed replacement tree planting between Wood Vale and Westwood Park rear gardens is hugely welcomed to maintain treed amenity and wooded character of the disused rail-line nature trail, species as informative A: sessile oak, hornbeam, field maple, wild cherry with also holly, hazel, willow, sycamore, rowan.Informative C: management to retain safe standing habitat poles/stems/stumps and creation of habitat log piles with arisings is greatly appreciated to retain wildlife habitat and biodiversity within the Nature Trail.