We are about to undertake the next phase of our tree maintenance programme. We have carried out the most urgent works in recent months but there is still some work to be done in order to ensure the health and safety of our parks.
We’d like to assure all park users that protecting our wildlife and supporting it to flourish and grow is our absolute priority, and we aim to complete these works before the main nesting season for birds. All trees will be inspected before works are carried out and where nesting birds are found, if possible, all work on that individual tree will be halted until the birds have fledged.
We have also appointed a specialist ecologist to survey for potential bats roosts. If any are found, further investigations will be carried out prior to advising on next steps.
We understand that the removal of trees may be distressing for some, particularly those who visit the parks on a regular basis. We have worked with the Forestry Commission and Newcastle City Council, and all necessary permissions will be in place. We’ve created an interactive map so park users can see which trees, and which parks, are affected by our tree maintenance programme. Signage will also be added to some of the individual trees in our parks too and you can see what they symbols used on the trees mean here:
We want to assure you that this is the most appropriate course of action. In a woodland setting, we could leave diseased trees to come to a natural end and contribute to the ongoing ecology of the area. Unfortunately, this is not possible in areas such as our urban parks and where trees are presenting an immediate danger. In such situations we must prioritise the safety of you, our park users. Where appropriate, we will leave some logs and branches on the ground to decay naturally as this provides valuable habitat for insects, birds and fungi.
We are committed to planting at least two new trees for every diseased tree we remove, contributing to our aim to plant 5,000 new trees by 2030 and ensuring our parks remain vibrant and beautiful places for people to enjoy today, and long into the future too.
If you have any questions or concerns about the works outlined above, please contact us by emailing info@urbangreennewcastle.org
Urban Green Newcastle is a registered charity and we receive funding from a variety of sources including donations. You can donate to support Urban Green Newcastle via Just Giving.
