Ten elderly trees to be removed from Hagley Park car park

As part of its upgrade of the Armagh Street car park and footbridge in North Hagley Park, the City Council has identified 10 elderly trees which need to be removed.

Nine are sycamores (the tree which produces the “helicopter” seed pods) and one is an ash. They will be removed by City Care’s tree crew tomorrow (Wednesday, 16 October) and next week.

They are in and around the car park area to the north of the Avon River near the Botanic Gardens footbridge.

City Council tree officer Dieter Steinegg surveyed all the trees in the area as part of the upgrade. The 10 marked for removal were found to be in very poor condition.

Parks and Waterways manager Anne Greenup has said in the past that trees often can appear healthy but on closer inspection are shown to be weak. There is a danger of them toppling in strong winds.

The work being done on the footbridge and surrounding area to the north of the river is due to be finished around the end of November.

When completed, the hump-backed footbridge will be wider and have a more gentle grade. Its balustrades will conform to modern child-safety standards. Associated work includes new paving and garden beds. Young trees to replace those being removed will be put into purpose built beds near the car parking area.

Also being built are kerbed areas around the base of those healthy trees which will remain in the car park area. The idea is to both protect the trees from vehicles and to help drivers avoid damaging their cars against the trees.

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