There are 7 trees affected by this application, all are Silver Birch, and the location is shown on the attached sketch, X1 to X7. They were included in TPO 29 1996 and were part of a group designated G3 in Planning Application 20/01790/APP in 2020 for what eventually became Tower View Cottage. These trees are approximately 65 years old (as advised by local residents who knew of the planting), but their growth has been suppressed for the majority of their life as they were shaded by other neighbouring trees in close proximity. At this age, even in good health, the remaining life is expected to be less than 10 years to failure or death, however they are all in the last stages of their decline and this time is likely to be considerably less than 10 years. They all have very thin crowns, and are sparsely leafed. Specifically there is considerable concern regarding the safety in the garden, and the proximity to the house and boundaries. Specifically :- X1 is dying, has significant dead wood in the crown and is leaning toward the eastern boundary. X2 is dying, has two major cavities at about 3m and is a potential danger to the house given the age and condition of the tree. X3, X4, X5 & X6 are all tall with very thin crowns, with minimal growth only at high level and are in decline. X7 has dead limbs at the crown and is dangerously close to the neighbouring house, Midcourts. This request is that due to the condition and age of the trees that they be felled and the stumps ground out. It is disappointing to have to request the felling of these trees, but given the circumstances it is considered essential. Therefore we would propose to plant 4-5 new trees around the garden, the species to be discussed with the Buckinghamshire Authority

T1 : Willow. Removal to ground level . Tree is dead. T2-T3: Maple. Reduce majority of crown to historic wounds ( 2-3m) to create a smaller balanced crown ( please see image 2) . Reduce lateral spread over neighbouring boundary to approx 1 m beyond historic wounds ( 3-4m) . This is to minimise the growth over the roof and against house. ( Please see image 3)

Would like to fell conifer in back garden (labelled T1) as a result of it now leaning at approx. 60 degrees back toward the house such that if it were to fall naturally there could be damage to one or multiple of the main house building / fencing / neighbours property. A replacement conifer would be planted to the front of the house where there is an existing row of small conifers lining the property boundary with the footpath (replacement position labelled in sketch). Would like to also fell a crab apple tree in the front garden (labelled T2) due to proximity to main house building and to therefore open up the front garden space and reduce shading caused by the tree (approx 4 meters tall). A further replacement conifer or similar would be planted to the front of the house where there is an existing row of small conifers lining the property boundary with the footpath (replacement position labelled in sketch).

The Sycamore tree, shown as T1 on the attached site plan, was the subject of a previous application in 2013 to reduce the crown because of fears that the tree was in close proximity of the Old Mill, a grade 2 listed building and could damage the building fabric. The tree sits on the bank of a raised former mill dam and has a large number of exposed roots. A full arboriculturist and engineering report was provided to support this application. At the time, the view of the Heritage officer, Julia Foster, was to remove the tree if it presented any further risk to the building. We were reluctant to remove the tree and chose to follow the pollarding route. This was approved and works subsequently undertaken by Pat Kernan, tree surgeon. Recent history The tree, being located on the bank of the millstream, has grown considerably in size. The roots are exposed and the recent high winds showed the tree moving significantly in the wind. It is not beyond bounds that then tree could be ripped up at its roots and topple on the listed building or neighbours buildings at Paradise House. It now presents an even greater risk to the listed building, as shown below. On Monday the 29th of June 2021 at approximately 3 pm in the afternoon, major damage resulted from a large branch blown down from a protected sycamore tree on the western boundary of the property which struck the south-west corner of the building, damaging the roof, dislodging the top of a dormer window, tearing off the gutters and their brackets and knocking down a twin wall stove flue attached to the building. Damage has been done to the brickwork where the flue brackets were ripped off. This resulted in over ??8,000 worth of damage We now wish to either remove the tree or significantly reduce the height of the tree to say four metres.

The identified tree is a sycamore (subject to Tree Preservation Order 2005 No. 3) sited within the boundary of 1 Ladysmith Road but adjacent to the garden of 21 Vicarage Lane, Ivinghoe. Our neighbour Geoff Travis (the occupier of 1 Ladysmith Road) would like to reduce the branches which are facing towards our house (21 Vicarage Lane) by 2 to 3 meters and balance the remaining crown by 1 to 2 meters. We fully support this and are assisting him with this electronic application. To date our neighbour (Geoff) has been corresponding via email with Neil Passmore in the Tree department at Buckinghamshire Council. It became evident in February with storms Eunice and Franklin that the branches could easily have come down causing damage to our property and the overhead telephone line. Given we have two small children, who are often in the garden at the front, we feel that there is a safety issue to consider as well as the practical issues of damage to property. Together with our neighbour we have obtained a quote and, subject to approval being granted, intend to have the works carried out by a professional tree surgeon (G O???Callaghan Tree Care Ltd). We both believe the proposed work is proportionate and balances the aesthetics of a tree (protected by a TPO) and practical/safety considerations.

T1- Black Poplar. Reduce the tree by 4m. The tree is situated on the boundary of the rear garden of the house. It is a large spreading tree with historic tear out present as noted in the June 2018 BS5837 survey at the time of the building work. The reduction work would help to manage the tree in the space allocated. It was recommended that the tree was reduced by 30% in the June 2018 survey (we are aware that percentages are no longer an appropriate method for identifying reduction work) and has subsequently grown considerably. The tree presents many internal suitable growth points to which pruning could be carried out to maintain the overall form and vigour of the tree.

Tree of Heaven on the boundary of Vine Tree house/ The chilterns, 20% crown thin to remove dead and broken branches