VITAL tree works are being carried out at one of King’s Ely’s sports fields to help prevent students, staff and members of the public from coming to any harm.
As part of the school’s ongoing tree management programme, several trees, including three large poplars, at the Amherst Field, located in Station Road, Ely, are being felled.
It has been identified in the school’s annual tree health survey, carried out by Care for Trees, that several specimens are now within falling distance of the busy A142 – and further onto the Amherst Field, which poses a risk to users of the sports field, members of the public and users of the carriageway.
King’s Ely’s Chief Operating Officer, Mark Hart, said: “The Amherst Field is experiencing an increase in use, especially with the school’s new partnership with Norwich City Football Club, who are working with our pupils and young people from across the Ely area, as well local groups such as the Ely Runners and Ely Archers who use the field for training. It is the school’s responsibility to ensure that our facilities are safe, not just for our own pupils and staff, but for all users, and after discussions with Ely’s tree officer we have decided to fell these trees that are unfortunately in poor health.”
King’s Ely is committed to re-planting the areas once the work is complete to both minimise the visual impact on the approach to Ely, and to promote a new habitat for wildlife in the years to come. The trees in question have a number of ailments, including infestations of goat moth, which burrows into the tree, causing decay inside the base. The school also intends to increase the amount of different tree species when re-planting to create a more diverse space.
Mike Wallman, from Care for Trees, who are based in Newmarket, said: “These felling and planting works continue the school’s good management of its tree stock. The proposed works will deal with the trees that have major structural problems. The most noticeable part from the roadside will be when the fire damaged ashes are removed and the willows are re-coppiced. The willows will regrow in time.”
The tree works will be carried out throughout November and December and should cause minimal, if any, disruption to the carriageway or members of the public.