Trees and planted areas

Why do we remove trees?

We normally remove street trees if they are dead, dying or dangerous and on rare occasions where it has been shown that a tree is responsible for damage to private buildings or facilities. We are fully aware of the sensitive nature of this work and only remove trees where there is no other viable alternative. Street trees may also be removed as part of developments and highway schemes to allow alterations to be made to the highway. When this occurs an alternative site close by is identified to plant replacement tree.

When do we replant vacant street tree sites?

All street tree sites that become vacant due to a tree removal being carried out under the routine maintenance programme are automatically added to the list for replanting in the forthcoming planting season, which commences November each year, subject to available funding.

When street trees are felled a metre high stump may remain until the council's contractor is able to access the site with the appropriate equipment to remove it to below ground level. However some vacant street tree sites get temporarily surfaced with tarmac to prevent trip hazards if the site is likely to be vacant for several months. In some cases a longer time frame is necessary to allow the roots of larger street trees that have been removed, to decay, to permit a new sapling to be planted successfully.

Request a tree in your street

If you would like a site in your street to be considered for planting a tree, contact Gemma Davidson, Assistant Engineer, on 020 8871 6688.

Requests for new street tree locations are investigated prior to the commencement of the planting season. When investigating new sites for street trees the following issues are considered:

• Visible evidence of underground services (determined by trial holes)
• Locations of existing trees on the highway
• Position of trees in private gardens
• Positioning of other street furniture
• Size of the front gardens
• The size / species of trees which would best suit the location
• Street tree history of the site
• Available resources
  

All new street trees planted are maintained for the first 12 months, which includes watering as and when necessary. After this period the new street trees form part of the bi-annual programme.