Concrned residents have contacted me about the beautiful beech tree in the front of Sanderstead Library. I am not aware that it has been professionally cut back for some time. I know that because of its importance it has a TPO - Tree Preservation Order. I have lodged an enquiry with the council to see if any maintenance work is planned. It is extremely large.
Response from the Council:
I have inspected the tree this morning, it is a wonderful tree and I find it to be in good health and condition. The reason it is such a fantastic specimen is because it has not be pruned or pollarded in the past. Trees generally don’t need pruning it is just that people want to control them in some way or make them fit a situation. In this instance there is plenty of room for the tree and I would avoid any pruning works. I last looked at the tree in March 2020 and did not consider works were required at that time.
We don’t have a regular inspection programme for this tree or other trees on library site but will inspect at the request of the library service. For a tree like this I would suggest that the only pruning that would be necessary is to lift the crown a bit over the foot paths ( I cut a few low branches the morning with some hand clippers) and any works should the tree show signs that it is becoming hazardous.
I would suggest the tree be inspected every 2 years of if library staff notice anything different about the tree like fungi or it not coming in to leaf.
