Trees to be felled for safety (From Watford Observer)

Trees in Phesants Wood, Rickmansworth to be felled for safety

2:00pm Sunday 10th February 2013 in News By Ben Endley, Senior reporter

As many as 50 sycamore trees in Rickmansworth will be cut down to prevent them posing a risk to safety.

Signs have recently been put up around Pheasants Wood by Three Rivers District Council warning that significant works would begin soon on trees that are starting to become unsound.

Efforts to remove invasive sycamore trees by ring barking them several years ago appears to have failed, necessitating the action.

News of the works has caused concern amongst residents who say the forest acts as an important noise barrier between their homes and the M25 motorway.

One resident living in The Queen’s Drive said: “We are very, very upset about this.

“Children used to play in there but it has just changed completely in recent years, there is nothing there for us anymore.

“You used to be able to see deer but they have all moved on now.”

A Three Rivers District Council spokesman said trees located adjacent to or in falling distance of footpaths will be prioritised and as much of the tree as possible will be retained as a wildlife habitat.

The spokesman added: “If left without any such works to fell and reduce the canopies, the trees are likely to pose a very real risk to the safely.

“It is anticipated that as many as 40 to 50 trees will be worked on, some felled and others monolithic.

“This will obviously have an impact upon the woodland amenity and I’m certain that many residents will be concerned.

“It is however very much within the public interest. These trees were always intended to be eradicated from our woodland, however we did not anticipate to action these works with such expediency”