Two giant redwood trees in Exeter face removal due to safety hazards and structural damage, despite public sadness.
The giant redwood is near the Civic Centre, the more famous of the two. Exeter City Council states it’s dying and claim it has very little healthy foliage. It cannot be saved, they believe.
They will remove it within a few months. The tree removal needs a crane because underground utilities are located nearby, which makes removal more complex.
They plan to keep some wood for benches and may carve the stump as a tribute. The area will then be ready for new planting, as the city wants to plant again soon.
Another redwood on Longbrook Street also needs felling. This tree sits at York House, council housing for retirees. The tree has outgrown its spot, and it impacts a wall they monitor closely.
Redwoods can reach 100m in their natural habitat, often reaching 50m in Britain. As their trunk gets wider, it pushes the wall, causing worry about the wall’s stability.
The tree must go for safety, and they will plant replacement trees. The replacements will be at both locations, as the council wants to restore the greenery.
A council member, Ruth Williams, made a statement. She said they dislike taking trees down and added they do not make these choices lightly.
She said safety forced their hand. The Dix’s Field redwood is unhealthy and declining really fast. She said the Longbrook Street one is too big and damaging nearby structures. Replacement trees from 2018 already exist.
They know about this problem for some time. They hope to plant more replacements there and want locations more suited for redwoods. The Longbrook Street redwood goes in a year.