Worcester News Article: Century-old tree gets chop because of danger fears

Thanks to Gema Bate for the article and Jonathan Barry for the photographs. You can contact Gema Bate on twitter at @GemmaBateWN

Worcester News Article – Indian Bean Trees & Faithful Tree Care – Click here for the article

PRECARIOUS: Arborists from Faithful! Tree Care, Worcester, remove a tree which was brought down during February’s storms from land near Worcester Rowing Club. Picture by Jonathan Barry. 1314556901.
By Gema Bate  01905 7 42251

DANGEROUS trees damaged during recent storms have had to be cut down.

In February, high winds blew down one of the 100-year-old Indian Bean trees near Worcester Rowing Club, on the banks of the Sev­ern in Pitchcroft, Worcester, severely damaging a fleet of boats belonging to the Uni­versity of Worcester.

Faithful Tree Care were asked by the rowing club to make the tree safe, but given its size and awkward loca­tion, the team had to use a crane and work from the nearby racecourse. Arborist Tom Murray said it was lucky the tree fell to­wards the river. “On looking at this fallen tree it was noticed that another tree next to it and of the same age and size was in a similar condition and lean­ing toward the building,” he said.

The other tree, also an In­dian Bean, was inspected by Worcester-based arboricultural consultant Paul Barton of Barton Trees and it was found to be in danger of caus­ing more damage. Worcester City Council granted conservation area permissions to fell the tree.

Mr Murray said: “Faithful Tree Care is always sad to fell such old trees, but we use modern practices and tech­niques to prune trees as an alternative to felling where possible. However, this was not a suitable option this time.”