Why are branches being cut off the trees on Peckham Rye Common?

[hpsaucey]

Does anyone know why the lovely trees on the main path across Peckham Rye Common down from the Cafe are having their branches so savagely cut back? Seems pretty brutal unless there's a really good reason for it. Didn't think it was a good idea to cut off so many branches as you ruin the tree's natural shape and just get a multitude of small branches sprouting up. They're roping off the really big tree just near the main park entrance today and its quite upsetting to see that they're probably going to do the same to this one too!

Going to lose all thet shade just as summer hots up.

[Sue]

They must be tree specialists, surely, otherwise they wouldn't be allowed to touch the trees?

Is that naive of me?

When I worked for Islington Council, the tree team were passionate about the trees in the borough, and I'd have thought it was unlikely Southwark were different?

Surely they wouldn't just lop off branches for no reason - why on earth would you do that?

[Penguin68]

'Public' trees are often pollarded - although this initially looks bad it soon grows out, and the pollarded trees have much lighter canopies and smaller branches - this can be very advantageous in either wintery or very windy weather, when the trees are much less likely to be damaged by snow/ frost or wind. I believe (but I am happy to be corrected) that smaller canopies also lead to less water consumption - so that in a heavily 'treed' area where the canopies are reduced trees are less likely to be stressed during dry or draught conditions.

Keeping trees pruned and reduced (maintaining them) is also more cost effective than having to make 'emergency repairs' following adverse conditions, and indeed more likely to ensure that trees aren't lost entirely.

[JohnL]

Being done on the roads along Brockley when I was on the 343 bus last.

But they are near houses.

[chantelle]

i've seen the pruning too and don't know anything about it, except to point out that there have been an awful lot of big branches on the ground after every bout of windy weather this year - so maybe this is pre-emptive on branches seen as vulnerable to those conditions.

[PeckhamRose]

You will get an answer by emailing:

environment@southwark.gov.uk

So ask 'em and report back!

[WickedStepmother]

I'm looking at the trees in question as I type this. What's been done looks a bit drastic to be regular pollarding, but I'm not an expert so I could be wrong.

[Renata Hamvas]

I'll investigate and post when I know more,

Renata

[hpsaucey]

Thank you everyone who posted and thank you Renata for investigating!

Helen

Renata Hamvas Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I'll investigate and post when I know more,

> Renata

[Renata Hamvas]

The information that I have so far, is that it is part of the annual schedule of tree crown reduction (specific trees within the park/common are on the current schedule)and removal of dead/dying/unstable branches. Timing is linked to the type of trees. I have requested more details and will post when I have them.

Renata