17 Oct 2016

Two ageing trees in Latimer Square will be felled in the coming weeks in a move to protect public safety.

An independent assessment of the two trees ordered by Christchurch City Council has found they pose an undue risk to park users and motorists because of their poor condition.

Two of Latimer Square's ageing trees will be felled this week.

Two of Latimer Square's ageing trees will be felled this week.

Council Head of Parks Andrew Rutledge said the city’s parks were faced with an ageing tree population and the issue of how to deal with them would become more prevalent.

“Christchurch is full of wonderful heritage parks that were planted by the early settlers, but unfortunately a number of those trees are now very old or diseased, so we are constantly reviewing the condition of trees and have a number of annual inspections to ensure they are safe,” Mr Rutledge said.

“Removing trees is not something we do lightly. We have contractors who assess Council trees on a programmed schedule and if there are issues our own Council Arborist will go out and do a further assessment. In some cases we will also engage an independent arborist to give their view, and this is what has happened in the case of these two trees in Latimer Square,'' Mr Rutledge said.

The Latimer Square trees - a 50 to 60-year-old English Ash on the north side of the park and a 80 to 90-year-old English Elm on the south side - were assessed as being in poor condition. There was a high risk of the trees’ branches falling and the only safe option was to remove the trees.

“There is no alternative but to fell these two trees in Latimer Square. We will be replanting in the same areas in autumn next year,’’ Mr Rutledge said.

The Council was developing an Urban Forest Plan to mitigate many of the issues that would arise out of the ageing tree population, Mr Rutledge said.

It was also working with a local not-for-profit organisation to reuse timber from trees, as well as creating mulch for the parks, reducing the need to use weed sprays.

Find out more about the Council's Heritage Parks.