'Dangerous' storm-damaged tree had to be cut back to avoid heavy branches falling
A "dangerous" storm-damaged tree had to be trimmed down to avoid heavy branches falling on members of the public.
Shrewsbury Town Council staff chopped the mature poplar tree back at the Rea Brook nature reserve after the damage was spotted.
The trunk has been left as a "monolith" to be a habitat for bats and other wildlife creatures.
Jim Goldsmith, countryside and green space manager for the council, said: “The tree sustained damage from a recent storm with a large limb having been snapped out from the top of the tree, leaving a large wound and an uneven crown.
“After we had undertaken a survey of the damage, we discovered that the nature of the wound meant there was a danger of the remaining branches falling onto a public right of way. As a result, we took the decision to remove that danger.”
The work was carried out by staff using a 26m mobile elevated work platform on tracks. Mr Goldsmith added: “With the recent dry conditions, damage to the ground was minimised.
“As part of our countryside unit policy, the tree trunk has been left as a ‘monolith’ which will provide a habitat for wildlife in the area, including bats.”
