VICTORIA PARK – HORSE CHESTNUT TREE

Newbury Town Council has been closely monitoring the condition of the large horse chestnut tree adjacent to the canal and boating pond in Victoria Park.  The tree has a high environmental value, but more recently the tree has succumbed to black slime flux that is indicative of bacterial canker (Pseudomonas sp), decay fungi (Polyporus Squamosus) and the chestnut scale insect Pulvinaria sp.  There are also a number of main branches that are dead, posing a health and safety threat should they break off with little or no warning.

The Town Council has carried out an independent tree survey and sought expert opinion from the West Berkshire District Council tree officer.  That research has led to the sad but necessary conclusion that in the interest of public safety it is better to fell the tree and replant with a new tree.  The Town Council is also arranging to have a bat survey carried out on the tree before felling.  If bats are found to be present they can be relocated to a safe location by a licensed bat handler.

The area around the tree is a high risk area because of the high numbers of the public using the area as pedestrians, cyclists and for boat mooring.  The area has been taped off to ensure public safety until the tree can be felled.

Newbury Town Council hopes to have the works completed by end January 2011.

That gets one problem out of the way of the Pavillion.

Yes, I bet the council are gutted.  Lets get RG on to it to see if it could have been started or neglected deliberately!

Quoted from Greenham Common

Yes, I bet the council are gutted.  Lets get RG on to it to see if it could have been started or neglected deliberately!

Darn you beat me to it.

I want to know if the independent tree survey was carried out be the same people who'll be asked to fell it!

Quoted from Greenham Common

Lets get RG on to it to see if it could have been started or neglected deliberately!

He'd probably start by questioning the tree and then complain about not getting any answerers.

Quoted from 78

I want to know if the independent tree survey was carried out be the same people who'll be asked to fell it!

Yes.  Sutton Griffin Architects I understand!  

haha. I walked past this tree on the way to a meeting this afternoon, and apart from feeling a little bit sad, the whole "bet the Pavilion team are chuffed" thoughts. I'm guessing the tree disease can't be cured???

This is a terrible event. The poor thing  
I've spent so many hours sat against it in the evenings it feels like a friend.

Quoted from richard.garvie

haha. I walked past this tree on the way to a meeting this afternoon, and apart from feeling a little bit sad, the whole "bet the Pavilion team are chuffed" thoughts. I'm guessing the tree disease can't be cured???

You cure it by chopping it down.

Quoted from MoonPhoenix

This is a terrible event. The poor thing  
I've spent so many hours sat against it in the evenings it feels like a friend.

Absolutely know how you feel....used to throw sticks at it 50yrs ago to get me conkers,and lost a few sticks,too !

Quoted from 78

You cure it by chopping it down.

Is that the only way? It's sad, but if it's the only way to deal with it then that's what will have to be done. |Hopefully they will replant a similar tree that will grow to replicate it over time?

If they plant another tree there the same thing will eventually happen. If the tree there now is deceased the problem will be in the ground for years, plus air polution. It is just one vicious circle.

Why don't they build a massive pavilion in its place?

Quoted from 8

If they plant another tree there the same thing will eventually happen. If the tree there now is deceased the problem will be in the ground for years, plus air polution. It is just one vicious circle.

Only if they plant another horse chestnut.

Quoted from blackdog

Only if they plant another horse chestnut.

A sycamore tree should do it; be up in no time.