The felling of two large trees – which had been part an attractive, green canopy above Manor Park for many generations – has caused shock and sadness among villagers.
Emma Revill, who kindly supplied RUDDINGTON.info with the photos (above and below), contacted us in dismay last Thursday (August 19th) when she saw that two of the tall, Beech trees by the roadside in front of James Peacock School had been chopped down. She called it “tragic” – and was very keen to find out the reason why. With the ‘climate emergency’ foremost in many people’s minds, the loss of carbon capturing mature trees anywhere is generally unwelcome.
However, we have discovered the school itself and nearby Manor Park residents were aware of the trees’ impending fate, and our research has revealed there was a very good reason. After making contact with James Peacock School, their Head Teacher Richard Waldron told us: “They have been monitored on a regular basis for many years, as are all our trees. This was a planned step carried out in consultation with all the required local bodies as there was disease in the trees which would have caused a health and safety risk to our school community, which we had to avoid. They were removed by a local contractor and will be replaced in the coming weeks.” However, Mr Waldron adds: “We are so sad to see our two wonderful trees go from the front of our campus. We estimate they were around 150 years old.”
We then received a more detailed explanation from arborist James Harrison, owner of The Treecology Team Ltd which carried out this work. “Yes, it is sad to see big trees removed but the safety of the school and its students was of primary concern” says James. “I stood underneath these trees to wave my mum ‘bye’ for the day 34 years ago, when I went to James Peacock school, so I agree with the sentiment on them.”
The trees in question were two, mature Copper Beech, ‘Fagus Sylvatica’, which James agrees must have been there for around one and a half centuries. Up until around six years’ ago all seemed well. Then, in 2015, a Nottinghamshire County Council inspection noted ‘Ganoderma fruiting bodies’ on these trees, which caused concern. “At the time an arboricultural consultant was engaged to inspect and assess the trees using some specialised equipment called PiCUS. A PiCUS sonic tomograph and an educated arboriculturist can take an x-ray of the tree(s). This gives us a snapshot of how much the fungus has decayed the internal structure of the tree and what reactionary growth the tree has formed in response to this internal invasion.”
James explains that not all fungus is a pathogen and not all trees need removing that have been colonised by fungus. However, he says Ganoderma on Beech is a high-risk combination in most cases. “We removed dead wood from both Beech trees in 2016 and 2019 as part of their safe management. A second PiCUS scan was performed 2019 and thus allowed us to see a noticeable increase in decay, combined with dieback of the upper crown. All this information, combined with the trees position and potential targets, allowed us to set a work schedule and, at this point, the school was advised that the short term structural safety of the trees was now in doubt – and we recommended complete removal and replanting of both mature Beech trees.”
Manor Park lies in Ruddington’s conservation area so any work to mature trees has to be granted permission by the authority. Therefore, at that point, the Rushcliffe Tree Officer was advised – and subsequently agreed to allow permission for both trees to be felled.
James adds: “The Treecology Team with support from Tindle Tree Care and CPW Arb safely dismantled both trees by crane, and MEWP and cleared them from site. Both stumps have been ground out and we are replanting this autumn with native hardwood trees such as Oak and Beech.”
The news that they will be replaced as soon as possible will be welcomed by tree lovers. However, of course, it will be very many years before they can achieve the stature and environmental benefits of their predecessors.
Ruddington artist and tree enthusiast Tristram Aver – who captured this ‘before’ image (left) – sums up the sentiments of many:
“Those trees have witnessed generations of families and students busily passing under their majestic canopies, predating the school building itself and all of the village residents. I distinctly recall waiting from my children one day, stopping, staring, and noticing the wind blow through a hypnotic sway of the branches that gave Manor Park a gentle wash of audible calm before the inevitable rush of the school-run. It was beautiful.”
