Southwark - why are you pruning trees when they are coming into blossom?

[The Nappy Lady]

My complaint was Harlescott Rd in Nunhead - not quite ED I know, but I've seen it happen here too as I work in ED.

James - thank you so much for your support on this, please keep me in the loop.

[pinkhalf]

They aren't tree surgeons. You don't need to be a tree surgeon to cut the life out of a tree. I can do that.

This a form of vandalism.

Someone who would order a blossoming tree to be cut is an ignoramus - and if they work for the council can we have this idiot recommended for redundancy? Cut idiots, not trees.

[The Nappy Lady]

Photos as promised....the pruned and unpruned are only just coming into blossom, but you will see their potential in the photo of a tree right next to them, which was marked up to be done next.....

[The Minkey]

It's not just ED, Kelvington Road, which runs between Brenchley Gdns and Ivydale/Cheltenham Rds, has a tree which has been mutilated. All its branches have been lopped short, whether ingrowing or outgrowing. The tree is now a grotesque: A misshapen thing with amputated limbs. Only twigs thinner than an inch or so were spared, from which a smattering of forlorn blossom tentatively blooms. Whoever was responsible has demonstrated a level of numptyism bordering on the deranged.

[The Minkey]

To clarify, this was done several weeks ago, so before blossom time but the end result is shockingly bad all the same.

[cassidy]

Oglander road had tree pruning signs up today saying work will be start on thursday will that still go ahead

[pez]

Hi does anyone have any idea which roads have been affected and roughly how many trees? Please PM with responses.

[candj]

I guess that I am thankful southwark never ploughed our street during the snow, fixed the potholes in a timely fashion, never swept the heaps of slippery rotting leaves from the pavement last autumn until I rang as it means the tree butchers won't be here anytime soon. Shame for the other trees as it's so lovely this time of year.

[genwilliams]

Copleston Road looks beautiful at the moment with its trees & blossom. I hope it won't be subjected to this. :(

[James Barber]

To reiterate. The pruning was a horrible mistake and the Parks Manager who is accountable for the tree department that asked for this assures me it will never happen again.

[Tarot]

That is typical of who they employ has park managers,the same thing happened in Hornimans gardens,they emloyed a man who didnt have a clue about horticulture,totally unqualified.and he massacared half the trees in the gardens.

Horses for courses, a qualified man in his subject is the way to go.

Its good you took interest James,these people left to think on their own are dangerous.

[Sue]

NappyLady, when I click on your photos I get a load of gobbledegook and no picture, what programme can I view them in?

[The Nappy Lady]

Sorry about that Sue. They are jpegs, I can email or text them to you if you PM me with contact details.

[Sue]

That's weird, I should be able to view jpegs OK, I'll try again :)

[ianr]

> That's weird, I should be able to view jpegs OK, I'll try again.

Save the 'gobbbledeook' files from your browser, using a .jpg extension. And you then get ...

[The Nappy Lady]

Thanks IanR - I used an online app to resize them, guess that was why I lost the jpg extension.

[shuffle and stomp]

Pruning on my road today, e mail sent

[Mellors]

I saw them taking a whole tree out on Whateley Rd yesterday, roots and all, and shredding it.

[Sue]

It's possible there could have been a good reason for that eg tree was diseased or had got too big for its space and roots would potentially affect nearby houses.

Back in the day street trees were planted with little consideration as to how big they would grow, I think.

Not saying that's necessarily the reason, but let's give them the benefit of the doubt, eh.

[Mellors]

It was only a new little one - don't think it could have been more than a few years old? Presumably the same people planted it a wee while back?

[Sue]

Oh well, who knows.

The tree outside my house was quite new when it split down the middle as a result of somebody apparently trying to wrench off one of its branches, and the council had to remove it as it was a potential hazard.

It only took them about two years to replace it :)) and that was only after I'd got James The Councillor involved!

[dazeykat]

Southwark Council is cutting all sorts of services for vulnerable people, yet, at the same time wasting money on employing people to prune trees 'by mistake'. The lack of vision and 'joined up' services between departments is demoralising.

[tiddles]

Don;t the contractors have any common sense at all???? Surely if these chaps who do trees all the time for southwark had any knowledge of trees they would have queried this?? reminds me of the mural at goose green fiasco .......

[Sue]

They don't appear to be responding to emails, either :-S

Surely they must be required to at least send an acknowledgement?