Unsafe trees on Exeter Green Circle were cut down by University due to potential danger to walkers. Replanting planned.
The University of Exeter did it last week. They said the trees were unsafe, explaining that big branches could fall and hurt someone. The university plans to plant new trees.
Photos show tree stumps along the path now. These trees were in Riverside Valley Park, a section of the 12-mile Green Circle. A sign explains why they cut them.
The sign stated the trees got too big and became structurally unstable. The trees could drop huge limbs, potentially killing someone walking below. Experts therefore suggested cutting them.
The university consulted several groups, including tree experts and authorities. Everyone agreed to cut the trees down; their felling license has a condition.
The university must replant lots of trees; they will plant five times what they removed. They’ll use oak, cherry, and thorn trees to help local wildlife, and plan to plant this autumn.
The path was closed for three days while they cut the trees. Exeter also plans to cut two other big trees, as they declared those city center trees unsafe as well.
A walker on the path is not happy, noting that they see trees cut often but rarely replanted. They liked hearing woodpeckers there, and this walker thinks this hurts birds.