Pruning works are proposed to reduce the canopy of a mature beech tree by approximately 40 percent at Woodbourne Villa in Headingley.

Full Proposal

Mature Beech Tree (Fagus sylvatica) reduce the overall canopy by approximately 40% pruning back to suitable growth points.Tree DescriptionMature Beech tree approximately 18m in height with an 18m canopy spread, located on the boundary of a car park and a busy student pedestrian access route.Observations* Recent significant limb failure resulting in substantial tear-out and damage.* Main stem forks at approximately 3m above ground level.* Southern stem contains multiple tight secondary forks and compressed unions exhibiting included bark. See photo 4,5,6 & 7 * Large lateral limb extends over the adjacent car park and pedestrian route.* The recent limb failure has significantly altered canopy balance and increased exposure to wind loading.* Remaining scaffold limbs are subject to increased mechanical stress due to the loss of canopy mass on one side of the crown.* Ongoing risk of further branch failure from weakly attached unions and redistributed loading within the canopy.RecommendationReduce the overall canopy by approximately 40%, pruning back to suitable growth points where practicable. See photo 1 & 3 Justification * Significantly reduce end weight and wind loading on compromised scaffold limbs.* Mitigate the risk of further failure associated with included bark unions and compressed forks.* Rebalance the crown following the recent major limb loss.* Reduce the likelihood of branch failure over the adjacent car park and heavily used pedestrian route.* Retain the tree where possible while managing foreseeable risk to site users and property.