67 Hall Drive, London, SE26 6XL

Proposal

REAR: ONE Ash (TPO T19)(ht.12-15m) FELL. Reason: large branch cracked off causing damage to roof of rear garages of York House, Lawrie Park Road, reduced foliage, concerns of Ash dieback, tree previously crown reduced. Duty to replace applies, with another large canopy tree species. The London Borough of Lewisham (Hall Drive) Tree Preservation Order 1971. Informative A: huge thanks for the tree planting which the Crescent estate has undertaken in recent years; Informative B: encourage crown reduction to safe height rather than fell to retain boundary vegetation, amenity, soil condition and biodiversity. Ash trees vary when they come into leaf and set seed. As there has been a prolonged dry spring and summer, the crown condition may be a result of this, rather than ash dieback. Ash die back causes the tips of branches to lose foliage first which is not the case with this ash. There have been strong winds recently causing cracked branches on trees in the borough. Should felling be essential for safety, encourage retention of high stem or stump, with a suitable large canopy tree replacement under duty to replace, species such as hornbeam, sessile oak, Wild Service Tree, Bird cherry, Small leaved lime, black poplar, Italian Alder, tulip tree, Norway maple, hop hornbeam (Ostrya carpinifolia), Indian horse chestnut, Sweet chestnut. Informative C: Forestry Commission advice is to retain amenity ash trees with usual risk management as some ash trees are resistant to, or recover from, ash dieback and these trees will be an important seed source of resitant ash trees for the future.