Tree Tec Tree and Garden Services

Mr A Doyle M.Sc. Env For. Arb Cert RFS

Tree and Woodland Survey

Prepared for:

Brockhampton Park
Brockhampton
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire

GL54 5SP

 Table of Contents

1. Terms of reference ………………………….. Page 1
2. Introduction ……………………………………. Page 2
3. Objectives ………………………………………. Page 3
4. Surveying Method …………………………… Page 4
5. Site ………………………………………………… Page 5
6. Table of Recommendations ………………. Page 6 – 22
7. Discussion ……………………………………… Page 23

1. Terms of Reference

Instructions were received from Mr Johan Pretorius and CMG Management Company via email to visually assess the health, condition and safety of trees to meet the owners duty of care at Brockhampton Park. Including the creation of a Schedule of Works for proposed tree maintenance within the park and in particular, trees adjacent to the highway where over hanging branches or diseased trees may cause problems.

There is no public access as the park is residential and private. However, residents and visitors are allowed to walk freely anywhere within the Park boundary, and as the house is split into individual flats (approximately 22) with associated vehicles from residents and visitors, it may be quantified to be a high activity area regarding health and safety.

 

2. Introduction

Brockhampton Park House is a grade II listed Cotswold manor house split into individual residencies, with surrounding wooded parkland all set within approximately eight acres. It is also set within the Cotswold AONB and within the Conservation Area of Sevenhampton. Therefore, any proposed tree works will need planning notification sent to Cotswold District Council. It is prominent in the landscape and as such will demand high attention to detail for any work that is carried out.

It is recommended that skilled contractors be used carrying the correct level of public liability insurance (£5 million) and Arboricultural Association (AA) approved if possible. Work must be carried out in accordance with the BS 3998 (2010) Recommendations for Tree Work.

It is important to observe current legislation regarding wildlife protected under:

• The Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (as amended)
• The Countryside & Rights of Way Act 2000 (as amended)
• Since 2007 bat protection is also covered by Schedule 2 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c) Regulations 1994.
• European Protected Species Act, all bat species; roosts and their accesses are protected by law.
• Most UK bird species their nests and eggs are protected under the above.
• If a bat roost is suspected contact with the Statutory Nature Conservancy Organisation, Natural England (Gloucestershire Office 01531 638500) must be sought. To avoid disturbing nesting birds and or breeding bats the work is best carried out during the dormant season for nesting birds, August and October or March and April for bats.

Most of the trees within the park are in reasonable condition. However, some arboricultural work has been carried out recently, in particular to mature and veteran trees. Thus, initial work may be more intensive. It is the intention to replace any removed tree with a native species that may enhance the biodiversity of the park. Proposals will include considerations of Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAPS) and Habitat Action Plans (HAPS).

Recent surveying of the woodland area revealed woodland community tending toward the following eponymous group: National Vegetation Classification (NVC) W8 Fraxinus excelsior – Acer campestre – Mercurialis perennis. (Rodwell 1998). 

The following schedule of works is in table format due to the number of trees. There is also an accompanying tree number/location map.

3. Objectives

The main objective is to address any health and safety issues that may arise through falling deadwood and or limbs from the trees on site, thus reducing the risk to people and property. During this process it should be noted that due diligent care should be taken to enhance the tree stock and to extend the longevity, landscape prominence and amenity value of all trees on site where possible.

4. Surveying Method

• Trees are large dynamic organisms which are constantly changing and adapting to their environment. No tree can be considered categorically safe as we live in the windiest temperate forested area in the world and are subjected to catastrophic endemic winds. Therefore the tree evaluation in this report is no guarantee against failure.

• This report refers to the condition of the trees on a “point in time basis” evaluated on the day of the assessment. The survey was completed from ground level only. Due to the stochastic nature of trees and their environment, this report and any

            recommendations are limited to three (3) year period unless stated otherwise.

• My evaluation of the tree(s) is of a preliminary nature. Therefore, the assessment of tree health/condition is based on visual tree assessment (VTA) from the ground and no invasive or destructive methods were employed.
• A site visit was carried out on 14^th September 2020 to carry out an unaccompanied inspection of the trees. During the inspection the weather was bright and there was little to no wind. All observations were carried out from the ground. Detailed investigations were not carried out. Any trees that had visual restrictions g. ivy clad were noted in the Schedule of Works. Scientific and common names will be used.
• Only trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH) above 20 cm were assessed.
• The age of the tree is expressed using the following terms:

 Young = < 1/3 life expectancy

Middle-aged = 1/3 – 2/3 life expectancy

Mature = > 2/3 life expectancy

Veteran = > Due to size, age or condition is of exceptional landscape and conservation value

Senescent = over mature

• Physiological condition is expressed as: Good, Fair or Poor
• Priority of works is expressed using the following terms:

1. High – work to be carried out as soon as possible   
2. Medium – possible future health and safety risk (work to be carried out within 12 months of report date)
3. Low – non urgent, good arboricultural practice

 

5. Site

OS ref: SP 032 224

 

Designations: Within Cotswold AONB and Conservation Area

 

HAPS: Gloucestershire Biodiversity Action Plan, e.g. supporting species rich hedgerows, lowland wood-pasture and parkland (historic)

 

LBAPS: Gloucestershire Biodiversity Action Plan supporting, e.g. Maple wood-boring beetle (Gastrallus immargiates) classified as endangered in GB

 

Hazards: Above ground electricity cables

 

Hydrology: Lake and stream riparian habitats

 

Archaeology: None recorded

 

Aspect: West

 

Altitude: 210m asl

 

Rainfall: 871 – 1060 mm, average annual rainfall from 1971 – 2000 (Meteorological Office 2006)

 

Wind Factor: FC Forest Gales, Wind Hazard Classification WHC 2 (low threat)

 

Soil: FC Soil Classification System: 12a calcareous rendzina 30 – 45cm to bedrock (Kennedy 2002)

Calcareous rendzina soil, with aerated oolitic limestone parent material, depicting good rooting depth.

6. Table of recommendations

Tree No	Species, Age & Condition	Recommended Action	Priority
1	2 No Chamaecyparis lawsoniana columnaris Blue Lawson cypress Mature  Poor	Gaps from previous broken out branches from snowfall. Remove to ground, grind out stumps and replace with native juniper	3
2	Acer campestre Field Maple Young Good	Healthy no action
3	Stransvaesia Young  Good	Healthy no action
4	Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 13  Roadside lawson cypress Mature 1 poor the rest fair	1 -13 Running from the North to the South. Severe die back in number 6 remove to ground. 5m height reduction to all others due to proximity of wall and road	1
5	Chamaecyparis lawsoniana Mature Fair	Height reduce to match roadside trees	1
6	Cupressus x leylandii Young Good	Healthy no action
7	Cedrus libani Cedar-of-Lebanon Mature Fair	Deadwood and remove hanging branches	1
8	Cedrus deodora Cedar Young Good	Healthy no action
9	Juglans regia Walnut Mature Good	Deadwood and crown lift to 2m to enable mower access	2
10	Fraxinus excelsior pendula Weeping ash Young Suspect ash dieback	Prune vertical growth annually	1,2,3
11	Fagus sylvatica puperea Copper beech Mature Fair	Due to the proximity to the driveway, height reduction to defective stem, to alleviate structural weight, deadwood, crown lift to 5m roadside only. non-invasive cable bracing (option) above bifurcated joint with included bark, climber inspection for cavities	1
12	Fagus sylvatica puperea Copper beech Mature Fair	Crown thin 15%, deadwood, included bark around old branch wounds (possible bat roost) Facilitate inspection of cavity at 6m on Northwest side by climber, monitor	1,2,3
13	Cotoneaster Sp Senescent Poor	Main stem decayed and hollow, structural fractures along framework branches. Remove to ground, grind out stump and replace	1
14	Quercus robur English oak Young	Deadwood only	1
15	Morus nigra  Mulberry Young	Healthy no action
16	Liriodendron tulipifera Tulip tree Young	Multi stemmed (4No) Northwest stem has included bark at base, monitor	1,2,3
17	Acer Sp Japanese maples Young	Deadwood all acers	1
18	Castanea sativa Sweet chestnut Mature	White rot to base of stem, possible future failure, monitor	1,2,3
19	Aesculus hippocastanum Horse chestnut Mature	Install non invasive bracing system, on main stem to stem over power cable. Prune branch rubbing on cable	2
20	Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore Mature	Deadwood roadside, climber inspection required for limbs over road	1
21	Liriodendron tulipifera Tulip tree Mature	Deadwood and climber inspection	1
22	Fagus sylvatica Beech Young	Climber inspection of cavity at 3m East side	1
23	Castanea sativa Sweet chestnut Young	Healthy, deadwood only	1
24	Fagus sylvatica Beech Veteran	Climb and inspect cable bracing and confluence of stems at 3m for decay	1
25	Castanea sativa Sweet chestnut Young	Deadwood only	1
26	Sorbus acuparia Rowan Young	Deadwood and remove snapped out branch hanger	1
27	Aesculus x  carnea  Red horse chestnut Mature	Height reduction by 3m to east limb leaning toward summerhouse, to alleviate wind load. Non invasive cable bracing back to main stem due to vulnerable fork at 4m with cavity, trim laterals to retain shape, climber to inspect cavities, monitor bacterial disease	1
28	Juglans regia Walnut Mature	Deadwood and climber inspection (large horseshe fungus at base)	1
29	Juglans regia Walnut Mature	Severe die back in crown, suspected Armillaria mellea (honey fungus) leading to failure, cross sectional fell to ground and grind out stump	1
30	Fagus sylvatica Beech Mature	Northwest side stem wind blown, decay inside main stem, Ganoderma Sp at 3m. Remove to ground and replace	1
31	Quercus robur English oak Mature	Deadwood only	1
32	Pinus nigra Corsican pine Mature	Healthy no action
33	Acer psuedoplatanus Sycamore Mature	3m crown reduction roadside	1
34	Acer psuedoplatanus Sycamore Mature	3m crown reduction roadside	1
35	Betula pendula Birch Young	Healthy no action
36	Juglans regia Walnut Young	Remove ivy to allow inspection	2
37	Acer psuedoplatanus Sycamore Mature	3m crown reduction roadside	2
38	Fagus sylvatica Beech Veteran	Healthy no action
39	Quercus robur English oak Young	Deadwood	1
40	Fraxinus excelsior Ash Mature	Deadwood	1
41	Acer psuedoplatanus Sycamore Mature	Remove ivy. Crown reduction 3m roadside. Lower limb Southeast side prune back to main stem	1
42	Acer psuedoplatanus Sycamore Mature	Recent excavation work has buried root collar, remove soil and expose	1
43	Fraxinus excelsior Ash Young	Leaning heavily, remove to ground	1
44	Fraxinus excelsior Ash Young	Healthy no action
45	Acer psuedoplatanus Sycamore Mature	3m crown reduction roadside	1
46	Acer psuedoplatanus Sycamore Mature	3m crown reduction roadside	1
47	Acer psuedoplatanus Sycamore Mature	Ivy clad, VTA not possible, remove ivy to inspect.	1
48	Acer psuedoplatanus Sycamore Mature	Ivy clad, naturally regenerated bifurcated tree, adjacent to road culvert and stream i.e., risk to infrastructure. Water under mining roots. Complete removal, stump regeneration prevention	1
49	Carpinus betulus Hornbeam Mature	Leaning heavily into neighbouring field, crown reduction 5m to alleviate wind load	1
50	Fraxinus excelsior Ash Mature	Die back in crown, suspected Fraxinus chalara (ash dieback) remove to ground due to proximity to road	1
51	Fraxinus excelsior Ash Mature	Die back in crown, suspected Fraxinus chalara (ash dieback) remove to ground due to proximity to road	1
52	Fraxinus excelsior Ash Mature	Die back in crown, suspected Fraxinus chalara (ash dieback) remove to ground due to proximity to road	1
53	Fraxinus excelsior Ash Mature	Die back in crown, suspected Fraxinus chalara (ash dieback) remove to ground due to proximity to road	1
54	Acer psuedoplatanus Sycamore Mature	3m crown reduction roadside	1
55	Fraxinus excelsior Ash Mature	Die back in crown, suspected Fraxinus chalara (ash dieback) remove to ground due to proximity to road	1
56	Fraxinus excelsior Ash Mature	Die back in crown, suspected Fraxinus chalara (ash dieback) remove to ground due to proximity to road	1
57	Acer psuedoplatanus Sycamore Mature	Double stemmed sycamore (bifurcated). Ivy clad and leaning heavily into neighbours property. Remove to ground	1
58	Fraxinus excelsior Ash Young	No action
59	Fraxinus excelsior Ash Young	No action
60 – 63	Fraxinus excelsior Ash Young	No signs of ash dieback at present, monitor	1,2,3
64	Fraxinus excelsior Ash Mature	Ivy clad, no signs of ash dieback at present, monitor	1,2,3
65 – 66	Aesculus hippocastanum Horse chestnut Mature	Leaf minor attack, no action
67 – 68	Fraxinus excelsior Ash Young	Coppice to ground and allow to regenerate	1
69 – 70	Acer psuedoplatanus Sycamore Young	Remove ivy, no action	1
71	Carpinus betulus Hornbeam Mature	Healthy, no action
72	Populus tremula Aspen Mature	Leaning into neighbours field, monitor	1,2,3
73	Acer psuedoplatanus Sycamore Mature	Trifurcated stems (3), monitor	1,2,3
74	Populus tremula Aspen Mature	Slight lean toward lake, monitor	1,2,3
75 – 76	Alnus glutinosa Alder Young	Coppice to ground and allow to regenerate	1
77 – 78	Populus tremula Aspen Young	Healthy, no action
79	Quercus robur English oak Mature	Healthy, no action
80	Alnus glutinosa Alder Young	Coppice to ground and allow to regenerate	1
81	Acer psuedoplatanus Sycamore Young	Healthy, no action
82	Fagus sylvatica Beech Young	Healthy, no action
83	Fagus sylvatica Beech Mature	Large decay pocket on North side, 5m crown reduction to alleviate wind load	1
84	Fagus sylvatica Beech Mature	Healthy, no action
85	Acer psuedoplatanus Sycamore Young	Healthy, no action
86	Acer psuedoplatanus Sycamore Mature	Healthy, no action
87	Fraxinus excelsior Ash Young	Understory tree, bad form and low vigour, remove to ground	1
88	Acer psuedoplatanus Sycamore Young	Deadwood path side	1
89	Fraxinus excelsior Ash Mature	Double stemmed leaning heavily into neighbours, remove to ground	1
90	Fagus sylvatica Beech Mature	Healthy, no action
91 – 93	Acer psuedoplatanus Sycamore Young	Healthy, no action
94	Fagus sylvatica Beech Mature	Deadwood path side	1
95	Acer psuedoplatanus Sycamore Mature	Deadwood path side	1
96	Salx Sp Willow Dead	Due to proximity to pathway, fell to ground and retain on site as deadwood	1
97	Salix fragilis Willow Mature	Deadwood and pollard to 15m	1
98	Salix fragilis  Willow Mature	Deadwood and pollard to 15m	1
99	Salix fragilis Willow Mature	Leaning in gap, check ownership with Charlton Abbotts	1
100	Leylandii Conifers Mature	(3 No) Poor form low vigour, remove to ground	3
101	Salix fragilis Willow Mature	5m height reduction to alleviate wind load	1
102	Quercus robur English oak Mature	Deadwood path side, remove ivy	1
103	Quercus robur English oak Mature	Healthy, no action
104	Fraxinus excelsior Ash Mature	Healthy, monitor for ash die back	1,2,3
105	Quercus robur English oak Mature	Healthy, no action
106	Salix fragilis Willow Mature	Trifurcated stems, coppice one stem every two years	1
107 – 108	Salix caprea Goat willow Young	Healthy, no action
109	Fraxinus excelsior Ash Mature	Healthy, monitor for ash die back	1,2,3
110	Quercus robur English oak Mature	Healthy, no action
111	Fagus sylvatica Beech Mature	Deadwood path side	1
112	Fraxinus excelsior Ash Mature	Remove ivy, deadwood path side. Monitor for ash die back	1,2,3
113	Acer psuedoplatanus Sycamore Mature	Remove ivy, deadwood path side	1
114	Quercus robur English oak Mature	Healthy, no action
115	Fraxinus excelsior   Ash Mature	Healthy, monitor for ash die back	1,2,3
116	Alnus glutinosa Alder Young	Include into coppice rotation (5 No)	3
117	Alnus glutinosa Alder Mature	Healthy, no action
118	Alnus glutinosa Alder Mature	Healthy, no action
119	Fraxinus excelsior Ash Mature	Deadwood path side, remove split branch hanger. Monitor for ash die back	1,2,3
120	Alnus glutinosa Alder Mature	Group of three, coppice one stem every two years	1

 

 

 

 

7. Discussion

The above table has an accompanying map (below) with tree numbers and associated locations within the park. For the trees within the park without numbers, although inspected at the time of the survey it is thought not necessary for any remedial work at that point in time. It is recommended that all trees, including monitored trees be inspected on an annual basis, this should include a climber cavity and joint inspection.