In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, made through agent HW Forestry Ltd, Tim Hartley of Caldey Island sought backing for the felling of approximately 55 trees, with crown reduction or pollarding of approximately 11 trees and deadwood removal from four linear groups of trees.
The application partly affects the Grade-II-registered historic park and garden at Caldey Priory.
Trees for removal – the majority of which are Monterey pines – include many Ash which “continue to decline across the Island,” as well as storm-damaged trees.
An officer report says: “The key tree removals noted in the [supporting] report relate to works for health and safety matters arising from recent extreme weather events, that has resulted in the loss of significant sections of the individual crowns, as well as some of the trees having been structurally compromised through root plate movement or structural damage to stems and unions.
“There are also some trees that have outgrown their context in terms of location and also their form with asymmetrical unbalanced crowns. This combined with scattered trees having been damaged within the groups has resulted in the need for intervention.
“Unfortunately, some of the trees and groups are of a form with high, lateral crowns that cannot be pruned in a way that would retain amenity. There are also works required for the pruning of trees on the island to remove dead branches and failed branches which does not require a conservation area notification.”
It concludes: “Overall, the works will have an impact on the setting of the conservation area, and there will be an impact on the amenity of the conservation area to some extent; however [a site visit and report] considers the works to appropriate in relation to health and safety, and the imposition of a TPO would not be a reasonable approach at this time.”
The national park ‘approval’ took the form of no objection being raised.
Discover more from Carmarthenshire News Online
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
