Removal of sweet chestnut tree near St Mary's Church in Thornbury creates furore

Removal of sweet chestnut tree near St Mary's Church in Thornbury creates furore

6:18am Thursday 14th August 2014 in News By Joshua Wright

Children playing on the tree which was moved to Streamleaze Green (9212296)

THE SWEET chestnut tree in Castle Street was cut down last week after being deemed a safety hazard.

The tree, by the vicarage near St Marys Church in Thornbury, which protruded onto the pavement had restricted the path to being 33 inches wide and was originally marked for felling because of the risk of bark falling on to passersby.

Thornbury Town Council was given a grant of 2,600 by South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) to fell the tree and SGC then moved it on to Streamleaze Green where plans are in place for it to be sculpted.

These plans will be discussed at Thornbury Town Councils Environment Committee meetings on Tuesday, September 9 and Tuesday, October 14 which the public are invited to attend.

The tree surgeon had to remove many of the trees side branches to enable it to be transported to its new location.

They said that whilst the main trunk was solid there was a considerable amount of rot in the branches, which were beginning to degrade quite badly.

Town mayor Cllr Guy Rawlinson said: Losing a tree, which was at least 200 years old is always a sad occasion, but it now has a home on Streamleaze Green where it will be enjoyed as a local feature.

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Removal of sweet chestnut tree near St Mary's Church in Thornbury creates furore