Forester & Arborist Services Ltd, Company No.7037426 Registered Office: 19 Arrow Road, Shawbirch, TF5 0LF 07747017979

Inspection of Common Lime at 34 St James Drive, WV15 6BN

Terry Merchant Chartered Forester M.Arbor.A [email protected]

Inspection date 13.2.2021

For LewisArborcare Ltd

1 Forester & Arborist Services Ltd, Company No.7037426 Registered Office: 19 Arrow Road, Shawbirch, Telford TF5 0LF 07747017979 1.0 Remit: • Inspect a mature Common lime as directed. • Compile a condition report and record of remedial work proposed where required.

2.0 Report limitations: The tree condition conclusion and recommendations in this report are valid for a period of one year, or a lesser period where indicated in the report. All trees are susceptible to exceptional weather events or deterioration resulting from other environmental changes in close proximity to the tree. The evaluation is based upon Visual Tree Assessment (Mattheck & Breloer 2001). Observations have been made from ground level with the aid of binoculars.

2.1 Statutory Obligations: Bats and the Law (Woodland Management for Bats 2005) ‘The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 makes it an offence to disturb, damage or destroy bats or their roosts. The Act applies in both & and requires consultation with the appropriate SNCO before carrying out activities which might harm or disturb bats or their roosts. The Act is amended by the CROW Act 2000. This adds recklessness to the offence of damaging or destroying a place a bat uses for shelter, or disturbing a bat while using a roost. The Conservation (Natural Habitats Regulations 1994) implements the European Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora 1992; EPS amendment Aug 2007, Oct 2010. Under the latest regulations, damaging or destroying a breeding site or resting place of a European Protected Species is an absolute offence, regardless of whether the act of doing so may be regarded as reckless, deliberate or accidental. Wild Birds (Mynors 2002) The Primary legislation affecting wild birds in England, Scotland and Wales is the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). In January 2001 the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CRoW) included amendments, which strengthened the law in England and Wales. The basic principle of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) is that all wild birds, their nests and eggs, are protected by law and some rare species are afforded special protection. There are certain exemptions to this notably in respect of wildfowl, game birds and various species that may cause damage. (Cowan 2002) Felling licence: Subject to tree size, location, condition and other Statutory protection, or prior planning approval, not more than 5m3 of timber can be felled in any Calendar quarter without first obtaining a Forestry Commission (FC) felling licence. Failure to obtain a licence where required is a prosecutable offence. Detailed information including exemptions can be found on the FC web site Conservation Area and Tree Protection Orders: The Local Authority protects trees within the district by the use of and administration of Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs). Trees can also be protected if they are within a Conservation Area. TPOs are used to protect trees (including areas of woodland) where their removal would have a significant impact on the local environment and it's enjoyment by the public. TPOs prohibit the cutting down, uprooting, wilful damage or destruction of trees. Any works to a tree(s) protected by a TPO or falling within a Conservation Area first requires the consent of the Local Authority. It is a prosecutable offence to carry out work to a tree protected by a TPO, or remove it, without the prior consent of the Local Authority. Detailed information including exemptions can be found on the Local Authority web site

2 Forester & Arborist Services Ltd, Company No.7037426 Registered Office: 19 Arrow Road, Shawbirch, Telford TF5 0LF 07747017979 2.2 Monitoring history: No recorded history. No inspection records available. The basal sucker growth was removed and a climbing inspection of the topping cut completed January 2021 by LewisArborcare Ltd

2.3 Site Characteristics: The tree is growing in shallow, freely-draining soil on the lip of a steep, west- facing sandstone scarp slope in the rear Garden of No.34. The tree is one of a pair of limes in full exposure to the prevailing south-westerly winds.

2.4 Location & Statutory Protection: 34 St James Drive, Bridgnorth WV15 6BN NGR. SO72289246 CC TPO

2.5 Tree Characteristics:

Species Common lime Tilia x europaea L. Current Top Height 24m Topping height 14m Diameter at 1.5m 84cm Crown spread North 4m; East 6m; South 7m; West 7m estimated Growth stage: Late-mature

Root: No evidence of soil movement Stem: Basal sucker growth removed in Jan 2021 to facilitate close inspection. No evidence of perennial fungi fruiting bodies or bark necrosis. Cavity with strong wound wood response at base of stem on west side. Evidence of wasp nest visible with cavity. Epicormic growth is characteristic of species. Crown: Topped at 14m. Multiple sprout growth response from epicormic buds close to the site of injury (inappropriate topping cut) has recovered the former tree height at 24m. No recent breakouts of live wood or dieback. Minor deadwood in former crown is characteristic of species

2.6 Evaluation of Tree Vitality: The recovery of former height before topping, with adequate annual shoot extension, density and bud size is indicative of the tree maintaining vitality in current growing conditions.

2.7 Hazard Assessment i.e. The Foreseeability of failure (An assessment of the potential for structural failure and the target at risk)

• The aerodynamic form of the crown regrowth is indicative of shoots providing mutual support under wind load. • Storm damage tear-out failure will expose the weak union on the remaining shoots to increased loading stress. • The absence of interlocking whorled grain (no axial growth between epicormic growth and stem) is indicative of a weak union between shoot and stem. • Turning moment (loading) at the attachment point will increase with the height increment of the epicormic shoots • The secondary growth (Radial increment) of live wood below the topping cut is unlikely to keep pace with the loss of internal ripewood over time.

3 Forester & Arborist Services Ltd, Company No.7037426 Registered Office: 19 Arrow Road, Shawbirch, Telford TF5 0LF 07747017979

2.8 Conclusion: Management of the crown regrowth height with repeat interventions will reduce the likelihood of tear-out failure at weak unions.

2.9 Recommendation: A staged reduction of the crown regrowth height and density to reduce the likelihood of tear-out failure:

1st stage: A 80% crown regrowth reduction (80% of 10m = 8m) while retaining the aerodynamic profile. Monitor the adventitious/epicormic growth response on the 2m retained shoots.

2nd Stage: Subject to onsite review in 5years, reduce the number of new epicormic sprouts through singling, following the recommendation in BS398(2010)

A 15% (1.5m) end reduction of the longest limbs on the west, south and east sides to relieve loading and improve the crown profile. Natural target pruning to BS3998(2010) avoiding wound sites >100mm diameter

Remove major deadwood where present.

4 Forester & Arborist Services Ltd, Company No.7037426 Registered Office: 19 Arrow Road, Shawbirch, Telford TF5 0LF 07747017979 Photo Detail:

T1: Cavity with strong wound wood response at base of stem on west side.

T1: The aerodynamic form is indicative of shoots providing mutual support under wind load.

T1: 60cm diameter topping cut. Multiple sprouts from epicormic buds close to the site of injury (inappropriate topping cut).

5 Forester & Arborist Services Ltd, Company No.7037426 Registered Office: 19 Arrow Road, Shawbirch, Telford TF5 0LF 07747017979

T1: leaf debris collecting in a cone shaped (tapering) cavity providing potentially suitable conditions for white rot decay of ripewood.

T1: a number of adventitious buds remain in the remnant of callus growth (wound wood response). The majority of callus growth is lost to weathering/decay

6 Forester & Arborist Services Ltd, Company No.7037426 Registered Office: 19 Arrow Road, Shawbirch, Telford TF5 0LF 07747017979

T1: a number of adventitious buds remain in the remnant of callus growth (wound wood response). The majority of callus growth is lost to weathering/decay

T1: The majority of callus growth lost to weathering/decay

7 Forester & Arborist Services Ltd, Company No.7037426 Registered Office: 19 Arrow Road, Shawbirch, Telford TF5 0LF 07747017979

T1: Bark inclusion developing between epicormic sprouts

T1: Absence of interlocking whorled grain (no axial growth between epicormic growth and stem). Turning moment (loading) at the attachment point will increase with the height increment of the epicormic shoots

T1: Absence of interlocking whorled grain (no axial growth between epicormic growth and stem). Turning moment (loading) at the attachment point will increase with the height increment of the epicormic shoots

8 Forester & Arborist Services Ltd, Company No.7037426 Registered Office: 19 Arrow Road, Shawbirch, Telford TF5 0LF 07747017979

T1: Indicative pruning position. Note the height of the crown regrowth is foreshortened in the photo when observed from ground level

2m height retained. Epicormic growth response to be singled as a second stage operation, subject to review in 5 years

9 Forester & Arborist Services Ltd, Company No.7037426 Registered Office: 19 Arrow Road, Shawbirch, Telford TF5 0LF 07747017979

Adjacent lime on neighbouring property

T1

References and main literature sources. A D Hirons & P Thomas (2018) Applied Tree Biology Wiley Blackwell Londsdale, D (2000). Principles of Tree Hazard Assessment and Management (Research for Amenity Trees 7) HMSO, London Mattheck, C & Breloer, H (1995). The body language of trees: A handbook for failure analysis (Research for Amenity Trees 4) HMSO, London Schwarze, Engels & Mattheck (2000) Fungal strategies of wood decay in trees Springer Shigo, A (1991) Modern Arboriculture Durham, USA, Shigo and Trees Associates Strouts, R.G & Winter T.G. (1994) Diagnosis of ill-health in trees (Research for Amenity Trees 2) HMSO, London

Terry Merchant Chartered Forester M.Arbor.A [email protected] 07747 017979 Report date: 6.3.2021

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