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Anger as Henley High Street trees cut right back while ‘at their best’




REMEDIAL work on trees in Henley has left residents reeling after the county council chose to pollard, rather than prune, the limes in High Street.

A number of residents had contacted Henley Parish Council about some of the trees which were overhanging onto buildings and pedestrians. The parish council took it up with Warwickshire County Council, which has responsibility for the trees, and members of its forestry team duly visited the village and started work.

The trees have been cut back when they were in need of pruning, residents say.
The trees have been cut back when they were in need of pruning, residents say.

But rather than prune (a selective technique to remove parts of a plant no longer needed/in the way) the trees were pollarded (all branches removed leaving only the trunk and a few large branches).

On Monday night (8th July) 14 residents attended the parish council meeting to make their feelings known. Among them was Roger Cooper, who told the Herald afterwards: “The beautiful lime trees are a delight to the eye and absorb the carbon dioxide from traffic to make the High Street a special place for residents and visitors.

“So imagine the shock to find that Warwickshire County Council is pollarding the trees now in July, when they are at their best.

The trees add to the charm of Henley High Street.
The trees add to the charm of Henley High Street.

“Henley Parish Council did not ask for this work to be done, they asked for some pruning and trimming to be done on low branches that were interfering with pedestrians on the pavement, but WCC forestry team is now pollarding, The trees look as if they have been vandalised.

“It is not the right time of year to pollard. The right time is autumn/spring and this should have been done then. To do it now will stress the trees and open the risk of insect infestation. In addition the trees will not now absorb carbon dioxide from the traffic on this busy road.”

Another view of the trees.
Another view of the trees.

In a letter to the parish council, WCC’s head of forestry said that pollarding was done on a cyclical basis but, to make efficient use of resources, had been brought forward to save doing it again later.



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