A. Trees & Hedges - Audit

A.1. Dead treeA.2. Dead sapling

12

A.3. two saplingsA.4. Clump of trees

3

4

A.5. clump of treesA.6. ditch or brook - overgrown

5

6

A.7. CopseA.8. bramblesA.9. saplingsA.10. bramblesA.11. willowA.12. saplingA.13. bramblesA.14. ditch

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

A.15. 2 dead & 4 live trees in undergrowthA.16. dense undergrowth overgrown the VG

15

16

A.17. brambles & overgrown undergrowth onto VG

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Civil LawThe owner of the land on which a tree stands, together with any party who has control over the tree’s management, owes a duty of care at common law to all people who might be injured by the tree. The duty of care is to take reasonable care to avoid acts or omissions that cause a reasonably foreseeable risk of injury to persons or property.

Policy (a) keep a balanced range of traditional British trees (eg Alder, Ash, Birch, Elm, Oak)(b) take a long-term view and favour 100+yr varieties(c) prohibit fast growing species (eg leylandai) and fruit trees(d) trees that encourage wildlife(e) replant new for old to maintain a certain number not less than the current(g) uniformly spread or clusters in certain locations(h) work will be financed from the VG account with prior approval of PC

Plan (a) A more detailed audit citing species, condition and approximate age of all trees in the initial audit and developing a summary by species

(b) annual inspection to identify & assess risk of dead, dying, diseased or dangerous trees.

(c) employ experts (BCC/AVDC Arboricultural Officer) to verify and if necessary fell such trees

(d) prune trees for their own well being eg: Removal of crossing, weak or competitive branches Crown balancing Dead wooding Crown lifting Crown thinning

but NOT for Blocking light Television or satellite signals Residents do not ‘like’ the tree Leaf or fruit drop Unproven allegations of subsidence or direct damage Construction of dropped kerbs or new driveways Perceived threat The tree’s size; ‘its got too big’ The tree ‘ moves in the wind’ Bird droppings Aphids Individuals medical conditions Erection of fencing, walls, play areas and sports pitches

(e) prune trees if obstructing footpaths, driveways, the pond or play area or are encroaching on properties and likely to cause damage.(f) Recycle all waste from tree surgery thereby avoiding the use of landfill sites or incinerator(g) Tree works shall be carried out whilst ensuring adherence to all wildlife and conservation laws are adhered to including:

Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (amended 1996) Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1999 Countryside Rights of Way Act 2000 Town and Country Planning Act (Trees) Regulations 1999 (amended 2008) Conservation (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1994 (amended 2010) European Habitats Directive 1992 (amended 2007) Biodiversity Act 2005 (amended 2008)

(h) react immediately to emergency situations eg storm results(i) Object to any negative impact to VG trees by planning applications(j) Consider effects of heave and subsidence when choosing the variety for a new planting(k) cut back brambles annually(l) Complaints procedure to the PC in writing who will investigate as soon as practicable.

Village Green, Conservation Area & Tree Preservation Orderssee https://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/protected-tree-search

What about trees in a conservation area that are not protected by a Tree Preservation Order?Trees in a conservation area that are not protected by an Order are protected by the provisions in section 211 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. These provisions require people to notify the local planning authority, using a ‘section 211 notice’, 6 weeks before carrying out certain work on such trees, unless an exception applies. The work may go ahead before the end of the 6 week period if the local planning authority gives consent. This notice period gives the authority an opportunity to consider whether to make an Order on the tree.

As the Village Green lies within a Conservation Area the following procedure should be followed: