Planning Application Details

English oak no. 8 (TPO no. G5/600): Proposed pruning: a) Reduce limb extending to the south by 4m from branch tips to 5m from trunks b) Reduce limb extending to the west by 4.5m from branch tips to 5m from trunk c) Reduce remaining canopy to similar canopy extents so that the canopy is balanced Justification A large limb tore out of the north canopy of the English oak no. 8 on the weekend of the 19th June 2022, which landed on the carriageway of Chapel Lane. Frank Spooner of SJAtrees attended site on the 21st June to re-inspect the oak due to concerns about the potential of further limb failures that could impact on the dwellings (nos. 43 and 44) of the CALA Homes site. The tree inspection highlighted that the canopy wound is approximately 350mm wide and 750mm long and that there was no evidence of decay associated with this failure, although there is an historical wound just below this one where apparently a similar failure occurred. In the absence of decay, it is the inspectors opinion that the failure is as a result of poor morphology and drought stress. Sudden limb failure is relatively common in some species (including oak) during long hot summer months and ???summer limb drop??? is a little understood phenomena but is thought to be drought related. The inspector concluded that based on the tree???s morphology and in light of the tree showing a propensity for failure, the over-extended and overly weighty limbs need reducing back to manage the risk of further lateral limb failures. Photographs of the recent failure, and to support the specification will be submitted with the application.