About a dozen diseased mature trees in Hazlehead Park including a row of lime trees are to be felled in the coming weeks due to various diseases.
Some of the large beech (fagus), ash (fraxinus), chestnut (aesculus) and lime (tilia) trees in the park have various fungi including ganoderma, pleurotus, and hymenoscyphus fraxineus which were found after a recent inspection.
The row of mature lime thought to be original policy trees have a fungi called kretzschmaria deusta and while the trees look in good health, the timber becomes brittle eventually leading to failure.
The City Council’s arboreal team is going to severely cut back these limes while retaining a smaller canopy of dense epicormic growth – where shoots lower down on the trunks are encouraged to grow.
In addition, these lime trees have had many years of footfall leading to compacted soil in the rooting area which will be mitigated by heavily mulching the ground under the trees with bark and reduce access to the trees with some chestnut fencing.
It is hoped to retain the trees for as long as possible and some new limes will be planted to the rear of the original retaining tree cover for the future, using cuttings from the original limes.
Some of the trees which are to be removed will be used for more sculptures within Hazlehead Park including the popular Gruffalo, a red squirrel, and a spider.
Aberdeen City Council Communities, Housing, and Public Protection Committee Convener Councillor Miranda Radley said: “While it is sad our tree squad is having to cut down some diseased trees, it is better for the woods at Hazlehead Park so the infections do not spread further.
“It is great the wood from the felled trees will be turned into the popular sculptures in the park and we appreciate that new trees will be planted for future generations of the city to enjoy.”