Tree felling at Saumarez Park a bit of a tall order
Half-a-dozen tree surgeons are currently tackling one of their largest-ever projects as they cut down two huge trees near the playground at Saumarez Park.
Guernsey Tree Services began work on the site yesterday morning, with tree surgeon Andy Torode saying that the trees needed to come down because it were a danger to the surrounding area.
One is a 25m Monterey pine, while the other is a 20m Monterey cypress.
‘It was weakened in Storm Ciaran last year and now has the potential to snap,’ said Mr Torode about one of the trees.
‘Due to its proximity to the playground and the fact that it has early signs of disease, [tree consultant] Phil Collenette advised the States that it should come down.
‘It should take us about four days to complete the work.’
Mr Torode said the pines were not abnormally tall in comparison to other pines he and his colleagues had felled near the water tower along Forest Road in the past, but were wider and had more branches.
‘As far as total mass goes I’d say it’s probably the biggest trees we’ve ever had to deal with.’
Mr Torode said that the outer branches would need to come down first before the main trunks would be able to be dealt with.
This was being done with the use of a 33ft-high crane yesterday morning, with company owner Ric David attending to the branches with ropes and a chainsaw.
‘It’s a case of going part by part, although a lot of the branches come down in one if you cut the right corner,’ Mr Torode said.
‘We have to be a bit careful because, as well as the playground, there is a telephone box nearby so we can’t just bring them down in one go.’
It is hoped that both trees will be felled by the end of today, but the area will have to stay closed while everything is then cleared up.
Parts of the trees will be left to become part of the park’s landscape, while the team go about chipping the remaining wood and clearing up the area.
‘I would expect the chips will be re-purposed for use in the playground, Mr Torode said.
'There will certainly be a lot of them.'
Access to the playground and the adjacent car park have been prohibited while the work takes place, with parking only available for staff working at St John’s Residential Home. Both areas are expected to be open in time for this weekend.
