The Russell Nursery School Meadlands Drive Petersham
T1 Oak, early mature, 15m in height T2 Oak, early mature, 15m in height T3 Oak, semi-mature, 10m in height T4 Oak, fully mature, 20m in height The proposed works involve pruning each tree to achieve a minimum clearance of 2 metres between the crown and the new building. This will be accomplished by selective pruning from the outer edges of the crown towards the centre, ensuring that any branches encroaching within 2 metres of the proposed building line are cut back to an appropriate growth point, maintaining the required distance. Additionally, a 1 metre allowance is included for scaffolding access, thereby establishing a total clearance of 3 metres from the proposed building line. These measures aim to provide sufficient space for both the construction and the associated scaffolding, mitigating any potential for unplanned pruning during the build. For T1, the overall height will remain at 15 metres. Lateral reduction on the building side will result in the crown being retained 1 metre from the current boundary up to a height of 7 metres (the height of the proposed building), providing the necessary clearance. Approximately 3–3.5 metres of lateral growth will be removed in this area. Above the building line, both the height and spread of the tree will remain unchanged. For T2, the height will also remain at 15 metres. The lateral reduction will ensure the crown is maintained 1 metre from the boundary up to 7 metres high, requiring the removal of approximately 4–5 metres of lateral length in the specified section. As with T1, the upper portions of the crown will not be affected. For T3, the height will remain at 10 metres. The lateral reduction will set the crown 1 metre from the boundary up to a height of 7 metres, resulting in the removal of approximately 2.5–3 metres of lateral growth in this section. The height and spread above the building line will remain as existing. This work will have the greatest impact on T3 compared to the other trees. For T4, the height will remain at 20 metres. Lateral reduction will retain the crown 3 metres from the boundary in the limited section affected, up to 7 metres in height. This will involve the removal of approximately 1.5–2 metres of lateral growth. The height of the tree will remain significantly above the building line, with only a small area of the crown affected. It should be noted that there is existing ground-level clearance under all four trees of approximately 3–4 metres; therefore, the affected sections are relatively minor, with T3 experiencing the most significant change and T4 the least.