Ringbarked sycamore

[Mike Dempsey]

Whilst checking out a couple of felled oaks for milling a few days ago I came across this ringbarked sycamore. The tree is about a metre diameter and is also TPO'd. I reported this one to the local parks manager as it is on council land and didnt want to be accused of doing it myself. He is sending his tree officer to have a look at it and I await his comments. It will very difficult to prove who has attempted the ringbarking, but the sycamore has survived this criminal damage as it looks like a pretty amateurish attempt.

The two oak trees were near some very expensive houses which were recently built and the owner of one of the houses got in touch with her insurance company to have a tree report compiled in order to have them removed. The insurance company took the council to court to force them to fell the trees. Unfortunately the Sherrif agreed with the tree report and ordered the council to fell the trees. These were two magnificent oaks and were beautiful specimens. It makes me mad as there was nothing wrong with these trees and I blame the council's planning department for letting the housebuilder to build so close to the trees. All the trees in this area are mature hardwoods and have TPO's. It is happening all over our area, I suppose the council is looking at it from the viewpiont of more houses- more council tax.

Edited May 23, 2011 by Mike Dempsey