The Isle of Wight Council is starting a programme of work to improve the safety of trees in the Camp Hill area, and Appley Park.
Some trees will be cut back, some will be planted, and some will be removed.
20 out of 100s will be removed
The trees at Camp Hill are in the roadside and green space areas taken over by the Isle of Wight Council from the Ministry of Justice in 2021.
After careful inspections plans have been drawn up to ensure that trees in the former prison estate remain safe for residents and visitors to the area.
Out of many hundreds of trees in the area, about twenty trees will have to be removed entirely, and forty more will be planted this season to replace them.
Trees near beach huts to be removed
Similarly in Appley Park, routine inspections revealed concerns about a group of tall poplar trees near the beach huts on the seafront.
Although there have been past works to cut the trees back, ultimately they have grown too much to be kept safely in this popular and busy area and the decision has been taken to remove them entirely.
Gillingham: They have become unsafe
Tree officer Tony Gillingham explained,
“These trees are part of the iconic shoreline view of Appley so we have for many years been trying to keep them going.
“Sadly the time has come where we have to take them down before they become unsafe.
“We have already been working to enhance the trees in Appley Park this winter both with IW Green Gym volunteers and contractors, and next season we will replace the lost trees with a more suitable mix that will be much more robust and resistant to the exposed windy shoreline.
“Managing trees is a long-term job, and although sometimes it looks drastic in the short term, the end result will be a safer and more beautiful park for us all to enjoy.”
News shared by Isle of Wight council press office, in their own words. Ed
