Horniman Gardens, 100 London Road, London, SE23 3PQ

Proposal

REAR (Nature Trail/new café & play, boating lake area): TWELVE Lombardy Poplar (1xT002, 11xTG001 approx.ht.20m) FELL. Duty to replace applies. Reason: co-dominant stem 14m long cracked out from T002, one-sided crowns of TG001 over high target risk of new café and play area, all 12 x trees in poor condition, health & safety, urgent works required to fell identified in Haydens tree survey 21.11.25. Felling proposed weekend 17 &18 Jan 2026. Informative A: duty to replace applies - the landowner has a duty to plant another tree of an appropriate size and species when a tree is removed in a conservation area because it is dead or presents an immediate risk of serious harm. Ref. Tree Preservation Orders and trees in conservation areas, guidance, para 121. Informative B: proposed replacement planting details to be submitted to the council after felling when the replanting locations have been be clarified, suggested locations: near the nature trail with native tree species eg hornbeam, aspen, field maple, wild cherry, goat/grey willow; on boundary beside the café and play area between the poplar stumps eg mixed native species hedge; within the Gardens near the café and play area eg several native or non-native trees. Informative C: wildlife habitat and biodiversity - encourage stumps of the poplar trees to be retained in situ, create additional habitat log piles with arisings within the Gardens and use shredded timber to spread 50mm mulch over RPAs of other trees in the Gardens such as the Cedar by the new communal garden near the Butterfly house (ref T213, Nature+Love project DC/23/130987). Informative E: Roosting bats possibility - suggest soft fell with timber left on site overnight for any roosting bats to emerge.