WE FEEL compelled to ask what is happening to City of York Council trees.

We passed the trees that have been pollarded in The Groves and must comment on what an appalling sight these trees look.

We are a reputable arboricultural company and feel that the severe pollarding of roadside trees creates both an aesthetically poor visual effect and also this will create a weakness within the higher canopy and excessive re-growth from the pollard points.

Who authorised this severe pollarding, as it is not considered good practice?

York has some of the best roadside tree-lined avenues we have ever seen around the country, but if this practice of severe pollarding continues this will have a detrimental impact on the tree cover within the city.

Trees, like all living things, need maintenance, care and protection by professional competent arborists.

Maintenance and management of the trees within the city is a legacy that we leave for future generations to enjoy the tree lined avenues within the city and such pollarding will only have a detrimental affect of the future of these trees.

JN & EN Hale, Lewis Tree Surgery, Wheldrake Lane, Crockey Hill, York.


Russell Stone, head of Neighbourhood Pride Services, City of York Council, said: “Large tree species in urban areas were often planted because they were pollution tolerant.

They are pollarded (where the head of main branches are cut back to promote a more bushy growth of foliage) to prevent them outgrowing their allotted space, casting shade, obstructing electric wires and streetlights or blocking gutters.

“The Platanus x hispanica, and common lime, Tilia x europaea are well known to be tolerant of pollarding.”