News / Trees
Notices pinned on trees in Centre due to be felled
In early 2025, the Centre is due to be transformed with the dribbling fountains filled in to make way for a new “thriving central area”.
A flat surface between the Neptune statue and the top of the Cascade Steps will create more space for events and the regular Harbourside Street Food Market, as well as people walking, wheeling and cycling – although the nigh-on invisible cycle lane next to Anchor Road will remain in place.
But as part of the council’s plans, five trees will be cut down.
is needed now More than ever
Work to transform the Centre is set to be carried out early in 2025 to take advantage of the winter tree planting season and is expected to take up to three months to complete – photo: Martin Booth
Notices have now been pinned on the London plane trees on the Broad Quay side of the Centre that have outgrown their planters and are due to be felled.
Bristol City Council’s notices of proposed tree removal and replacement say that a consultation is taking place until December 18 via www.bristol.gov.uk/tree-management-hub
The five London planes are set to be replaced with five smaller blossoming trees more suited to growing in raised planters.
Planted in 2000, the London plane trees have outgrown their shallow planters and do not have enough room for their roots – photo: Martin Booth
On the Centre Promenade works page of the council website, it says that “if the trees are left as they are, the trees could become unstable, posing a risk to people in the area”.
“We’ve looked at other options, such as building larger planters or cutting back the root systems and the crown of the trees.
“However, both these options do not deal with the problem of the shallow planters in the long-term and could also lead to the trees failing and becoming unstable…
“We’ve been working with arboricultural specialists to explore all the options, with a presumption that existing trees should be preserved, but we have concluded that replacing the trees with a more suitable species is the best way forward.”
The five felled trees will be turned into woodchip that will be used to fuel bio-mass boilers and also used to mulch around the base of the new trees – photo: Martin Booth
Main photo: Martin Booth
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