Today’s picture comes courtesy of Neil Carroll, who writes:
“I have long been a subscriber to Bath Newseum but have not felt the need to raise any issues with you – until today.
Cycling through Victoria Park today, and stopping off at the “Tea in the Gardens” shack at the top of the Botanic Gardens, I was shocked to see that the huge tree at the foot of the “picnic” area has been cut down. As you probably know, for years this tree has provided a marvellous area of shade for visitors, and suddenly the area has been deprived of this.
I spoke to a chap who seemed to think that BANES had called in tree “specialists” because a couple of branches were looking particularly dangerous, but that before anyone knew, the tree was gone.
Apologies – I neglected to take a picture of the sawn-off base of the tree, which looked perfectly healthy to my layperson’s eye.
I am angry and curious about this – I can find no Planning Application on the BANES site; can the Council simply allow things like this to happen, when we mere residents have to jump through the hoops to cut down anything with more than a 6-inch stem?”
Can anyone add anything to this story?
I imagine the tree posed a potential risk to safety. Councils do not cut down trees unless there is a strong case requiring action. Planning permission is not required. Unless the tree is subject to an individual Tree Preservation Order then no permission is required under that requirement. It may require permission if it lies within a Conservation area but that simply requires notice. However, in both cases when a danger to the public is posed, that overrides the requirement for any consent. Rest assured, councils do not have the funds to do anything, currently, unless it is absolutely necessary. Instead of expressing a grievance, perhaps we should be grateful that action was taken and no one using the park suffered potentially harm.
I am horrified at this account. This is unfair to the park’s department staff. We visit frequently and efforts have been going on relating to this tree for months. Explanations have been posted which regular visitors like us have seen. Yes, it started with an investigation of a couple of branches but it was discovered the tree was in poor shape, which is why the branches fell off. It has taken quite a time to bring it down before someone was injured as more branches fell. It was very evident from the tone of the notices the staff were as upset as anyone else, as they have already lost two in this area. Many conifers have struggled with climate change and we ourselves have had to have a tree felled. I hope this is now clear.
It was a Cedar of Lebanon (planted in abour 1850). The tree which collapsed in Southend last year, killing a little girl, was also a cedar. The tree which nearly killed the dog walker outside Locksbrook Cemetery this spring, and the tree in Victoria Park which collapsed in 1925, narrowly missing two young girls were both also cedars. If arboriculturalists and the Council Tree Team act with caution when it comes to this genus, I’m not sure we should criticise them.
Yes, cedars are known for suddenly shedding branches, particularly after heavy rain. A shame as they are such beautiful trees.
Why not be positive and buy a new one to plant? Only £78 from a well known local tree supplier.
If someone does consider donating a new tree, they will need to take into account climate change. Our Japanese Red Cedar is thriving but it will tolerate temperatures up to 30° C. The one that eventually died, I think was a Lawson Cypress and if so it does not like temperatures above 21°C. It had had several years of it and it was dying inch by inch before it gave up the ghost. So I’d consult with the Parks Department. Lovely idea though.