Stockwells, Thorpe Street, Aston Upthorpe, Didcot, OX11 9EG
Reference
P20/S4667/TCA
Local authority
South Oxfordshire
Address
Stockwells, Thorpe Street, Aston Upthorpe, Didcot, OX11 9EG
Proposal
T1 Beech. Fell to ground level. The tree is infected with Kretzschmaria Deusta and Ganoderma which which attacks and degrades the lower stem buttresses and principal roots of a wide range of broadleaved trees, but unfortunately is especially frequent on beech. It is a 'soft rot' in the early stages and the prolonged development of the soft rot mode can lead to a catastrophic brittle failure often with no warning signs of bulging or cracking as can occur with white rots. The tree has a wound fat 0.8m on the stem where the fungus was observed - which probably was the entry point for the spores of this fungus many years ago. Whilst this tree currently appears healthy and vigorous - with a full crown of buds, this type of fungal growth leads to unpredictable failure and given the proximity of this tree to the property, the tree should be removed by a qualified tree surgeon under controlled methods.