Thames Water felling all the trees bordering the Aquarius Golf Course/Reservoir.

[The Minkey]

Thames Water plan to fell all the trees bordering the Aquarius, some of which are truly magnificent. Feeling sad :-(

[BrandNewGuy]

Do you have any further details?

[The Minkey]

One large ash a few doors down from me came down earlier this week. I assumed it was because it was diseased as friends living nearer had complaining about it. Then when I heard the chainsaws from a different direction this morning, I managed to collar one of the guys doing the work and he told me they were all coming down as Thames Water suspected damage to the reservoir. I queried why it needed to be done now when wildlife is breeding etc. I've never seen a big tree come down before and hadn't realised just what a sad sight it is.

[BrandNewGuy]

Very sad. I hope they have an environmental plan for what happens next. I was talking with a chap from Thames Water only the other day about their commitment to environmental issues on their properties. I'll chase him up...

[The Minkey]

Thanks. Will you let me know what you find out? There is such a lot of bird and squirrel activity in those trees. I'm trying - not very successfully - to be sanguine about it..

[The Minkey]

One thing that occurs to me is the removal of such large trees with even larger root systems could surely cause an issue with subsidence/heave in itself.

[intexasatthe moment]

Quite agree about heave ,and feeling sad .

I'd like to have more detail/see reports about the "suspect" damage .

[The Minkey]

Had another word with the guys doing the work. Apparantly, the Environmental Agency did a site inspection not long ago and were really pleased with the mixed habitat afforded by the current set up. However, Thames Water are pushing through with the planning application to fell the trees regardless. Anyone got any tips on getting a number for Thames Water that will put me through to the kind of office that deals with this kind of land issue? I've tried going through the tree felling company but they are employed by Sodexho and don't have a direct contact.

[intexasatthe moment]

rch is really passionate and practised at saving trees ..maybe she could help ?

eg http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?5,1470880,1472865#msg-1472865

[The Minkey]

Thanks. I will run it by her.

[The Minkey]

Gavin Edwards contacted Thames Water who said contrary to what I'd been told, there was no plan to fell the trees in this wholesale way. However, it's unclear whether there are more to come down in addition to those felled recently or whether that was the extent of it. I'll feed back if anyone's interested. Sorry for the misinformation.