Tree Works Continue in Shrewsbury’s Quarry

Work is continuing in Shrewsbury Town Council’s Quarry to ensure essential maintenance of the tree stock in the park.

Shropshire-based Benbow Brothers Limited have a team of tree experts in the Grade I Listed park working on a full maintenance programme for the lime trees.

The Town Council undertakes an annual programme to identify those trees which require priority maintenance in the Quarry. Whilst the Council employs both its own in-house Arboricultural team and specialist local contractors to carry out work on an annual basis, the current tree works are extensive.

Helen Ball, town clerk, said: “Whilst we all love walking along the avenues of lime trees, they are particularly high-maintenance with an annual flush of epicormic basal growth. We also encounter branch die-back, which requires some of the trees to be dead-wooded on a regular basis.

“Many of these trees are over seventy years old and we have a duty to ensure the longevity of our heritage assets in the park.

“The works being undertaken now are over and above our routine annual inspection. Last year, our inspection identified three lime trees showing signs of serious decline which are positioned in areas where we see a large number of people in close proximity to the trees and had been identified through the inspection process we use as in need of removal.

“We submitted two planning applications to Shropshire Council for the removal of the three lime trees, with suitable replacements to be planted. This will also ensure that we have a rotating stock of maturing trees for the benefit of future generations.”

Any trees that need to be felled will be replaced in accordance with the Town Council’s Tree Management Plan.

Councillor Kevin Pardy, chairman of the Town Council’s recreation and leisure committee, added: “Now that we’re half way through the programme, I would ask visitors to the Quarry to continue to be mindful of the works being carried out there.

“It is essential that we manage the trees for the benefit of everyone who uses our park, not just now, but also for the future. Our park is one of the town’s most visited locations each year and we have a duty to maintain our outdoor spaces to the highest possible standards.

“With such a comprehensive programme of tree works, the elected members felt that we needed to contract a company which could undertake the works on our behalf. Once these current works have been completed, we anticipate that our tree teams will be able to undertake the annual routine maintenance, such as dead-wooding, for a significant period of time to ensure that we continue to maintain both the trees and public safety.”

Full details of the Town Council’s Tree Management Policy can be found on their website at: https://www.shrewsburytowncouncil.gov.uk/policies-standing-orders-financial-regulations/

ENDS/

Published 08 February 2022