Maintenance Approach for the Six Stonewall Trees on Bonham Road

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Maintenance Approach for the Six Stonewall Trees on Bonham Road Study on Stonewall Trees: Maintenance Approach for the Six Stonewall Trees on Slope no. 11SW-A/R577, Bonham Road C.Y. Jim The University of Hong Kong [email protected] Highways Department Government of the HKSAR 2012 1 CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES 5 LIST OF PHOTOS 6 1. INTRODUCTION 7 1.1 Preamble 7 1.2 Scope of study 7 1.2.1 Background and general concerns 7 1.2.2 Evaluation on the conditions of the stonewall trees 8 1.2.3 Recommendations on the maintenance of the stonewall trees 8 1.3 Deliverables 9 1.3.1 Draft study report 9 1.3.2 Final study report 9 1.3.3 Presentation of the report in a seminar 9 2. BACKGROUND AND GENERAL CONCERNS 10 2.1 Development of stonewall trees on retaining structures 10 2.1.1 Urban development and stone retaining walls 10 2.1.2 Tree flora on stone retaining walls 11 2.1.3 Pre-adaptation of strangler figs to wall habitat 12 2.1.4 Colonization of stone retaining walls by strangler figs 14 2.2 Effect of stonewall trees on retaining structures 17 2.2.1 Past studies of stone retaining walls 17 2.2.2 Historical cases of fatal stone wall failures 19 2.2.3 Historical cases of stone wall failures without casualties 20 2.2.4 Recent tree failures affecting stonewall trees 23 2.2.5 Stonewall tree failures with first-hand field inspection 25 2.2.6 Modes of root-wall interactions 27 2.3 Factors on stability and health of stonewall trees 31 2.3.1 Intrinsic wall factors 31 2.3.2 Quality of wall environs 34 2.3.3 Extrinsic impacts on walls and environs 36 2.3.4 Stonewall tree factor 40 2 3. TREE RISK ASSESSMENT AND ARBORICULTURAL 43 RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 Risk assessment of the stonewall trees 43 3.1.1 Site and general tree conditions 43 3.1.2 Assessment of T1 and arboricultural recommendations 45 3.1.3 Assessment of T2 and arboricultural recommendations 46 3.1.4 Assessment of T3 and arboricultural recommendations 61 3.1.5 Assessment of T4 and arboricultural recommendations 66 3.1.6 Assessment of T5 and arboricultural recommendations 76 3.1.7 Assessment of T6 and arboricultural recommendations 86 3.2 Tree values, potential risks and preservation 91 3.2.1 Value of the stonewall trees 91 3.2.2 Risk of the stonewall trees 92 3.2.3 Potentials and limitations in tree preservation 94 4. RECOMMENDATIONS ON STONEWALL TREE MAINTENANCE 97 4.1 Short-term practical maintenance measures for 97 individual trees 4.1.1 Maintenance of T1 97 4.1.2 Maintenance of T2 97 4.1.3 Maintenance of T3 98 4.1.4 Maintenance of T4 99 4.1.5 Maintenance of T5 99 4.1.6 Maintenance of T6 100 4.2 Long-term practical tree maintenance measures 101 4.2.1 Install soil strips at wall crest and toe 101 4.2.2 Remove joint seals to permit new root penetration 102 4.2.3 Prevent wedging effect on tree stability 102 4.2.4 Stop repeated removal of lower branches 103 4.2.5 Stop unprofessional and unnecessary pruning practice 103 4.3 Preventing grave impacts of excavation 105 4.4 Guidelines to inspect and monitor tree structural stability 107 and health 3 5. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 109 5.1 Preamble 109 5.2 Study objectives 109 5.3 Background and general concerns 110 5.4 Effect of stonewall trees on retaining structures 111 5.5 Factors on tree stability and health 111 5.6 Tree values, potential risks and preservation 112 5.7 Tree risk assessment and arboricultural recommendations 112 5.8 Long-term practical tree maintenance measures 113 REFERENCES 115 Appendix Resistograph micro-drilling to estimate wood density (conducted by a contractor on 31 October 2012) Tables 1 to 7 Photo slides 1 to 201 4 LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Stonewall tree assessment results of T1 Table 2. Stonewall tree assessment results of T2 Table 3. Stonewall tree assessment results of T3 Table 4. Stonewall tree assessment results of T4 Table 5. Stonewall tree assessment results of T5 Table 6. Stonewall tree assessment results of T6 Table 7. The microdrilling points of T2, T4 and T5 and respective photo references. 5 LIST OF PHOTOS THE SITE Photo T0-1 to T0-9 Slides 2 to 11 TREE T1 Photo T1-1 to T1-8 Slides 12 to 20 TREE T2 Photo T2-1 to T2-65 Slides 21 to 90 TREE T3 Photo T3-1 to T3-20 Slides 91 to 115 TREE T4 Photo T4-1 to T4-32 Slides 116 to 154 TREE T5 Photo T5-1 to T5-20 Slides 155 to 182 TREE T6 Photo T6-1 to T6-13 Slides 183 to 201 6 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Preamble The Highways Department (HyD) is responsible for maintenance of vegetation growing on registered slopes assigned to it. These registered slopes include, among others, stone walls as retaining structures along roadsides. Some of these stone walls have trees growing directly on the structures, with roots anchoring on the walls or penetrating through the walls to the soil lying behind (the ‘aft-soil”) to capture water and nutrients and to secure anchorage. These stonewall trees are unique landscape assets, but under some circumstances they may create risks to nearby residents or road users. They demand special attention or treatment in order to preserve them in a safe and healthy condition. With reference to the six stonewall trees on slope no. 11SW-A/R577 along Bonham Road (Photos T01 and T02), the main aims of the study are to identify the factors affecting the health and stability of stonewall trees, formulate suitable maintenance measures for their sustainable growth, and advise on mitigation measures to minimize the risk of tree failure. The maintenance responsibility of wall trees on this SIMAR slope was assigned to HyD in 2004. 1.2 Scope of study 1.2.1 Background and general concerns (a) Review in general the development of stonewall trees on retaining structures in Hong Kong This includes a brief account on the local stonewall construction that enables stonewall tree development and an account of suitable tree species adapted to stonewall habitat. (b) Analyze the effect of stonewall trees on the retaining structures and their stability on walls based on available stonewall tree failure records This involves an analysis, with reference to available typical tree failure records, on the physical and biological impact of stonewall trees on the retaining structures supporting them and hence the effect on the stability of the trees on these structures. 7 (c) Identify factors affecting stability and health of stonewall trees This involves literature review and site observation to identify and elaborate on factors affecting the stability and health conditions of stonewall trees. 1.2.2 Evaluation on the conditions of the stonewall trees (a) Examine and conduct tree risk assessment for the existing six stonewall trees This includes site inspection (and aerial inspection, if necessary) to examine the conditions of the trees. Observation with adequate illustrations and coloured photos and proper annotations shall be provided. Where necessary, testing for defective areas with appropriate tools and analysis on the test results shall be provided. (b) Appraise the value and assess the potential risks of these stonewall trees to the local community This involves the appreciation of the value of the stonewall trees to the local community and an assessment of the potential risks to nearby residents and other road users, as well as after taking into consideration of the value of these trees and the potential risks, the provision of balanced and impartial advice on the preservation of these trees. (c) Review the potentials and limitations in preserving these stonewall trees This consists of identification of the limitations and site constraints in preserving the trees. Formulation of practical proposals to enhance their preservation with risk mitigated. Illustrations shall be provided to clearly present the proposals. 1.2.3 Recommendations on the maintenance of the stonewall trees (a) Formulate short and long term practical maintenance measures to effectively enhance the sustainability of these stonewall trees 8 This includes recommendations on maintenance measures to be carried out during routine maintenance and special operation/checking as required to enhance the sustainability of these trees and minimize the risk of failure. (b) Prepare guidelines to inspect and monitor the structural stability and health conditions of these stonewall trees This involves the preparation of maintenance guidelines to clearly list out the aspects to inspect, monitoring procedures and maintenance operation shall be provided. Where appropriate, methodology of conducting the inspection and monitoring works with illustrations shall be included. 1.3 Deliverables 1.3.1 Draft study report The report is structured mainly according to the above scope of study. Three coloured hard copies and 1 CD containing the draft report to be submitted on a date as agreed by the Government Representative. 1.3.2 Final study report Three coloured hard copies and 1 CD containing the final report to be submitted within 14 days upon comments on the draft report are issued by the Government Representative. 1.3.3 Presentation of the report in a seminar The findings of the report shall be presented in a two-hour seminar in 2012 for government officials, including address enquiries as raised in the seminar. HyD will organize the seminar and arrange a venue in Hong Kong. The date and time of the seminar is to be mutually agreed.
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