Protected trees face chop in historic Avebury
The National Trust has applied for permission to cut down 14 trees that are subject to a protection order
A number of trees face the chop in and around the historic village and standing stones of Avebury, under plans unveiled by the National Trust.
The Trust’s countryside office has applied to Wiltshire Council for permission to fell or cut back 14 trees which are the subjects of tree protection orders.
In the most dramatic case, an overgrown Leylandii should be felled to ground level before it causes further damage to a sarsen stone wall, the Trust says.
The tree – at Silbury House – is also overshading the garden and impacting the adjoining yew tree.
Meanwhile, a huge holly bush is blocking light to the same property and needs to be reduced in size by a third, says the charity.
Around the stones to the south of the village, an ash tree – which is suffering from Ash Dieback – continues to decline and requires further pollarding, while the lower limbs of an ash and two beech trees on the boundary of the sports field need to be removed to facilitate maintenance of the sports field.
In the grounds of Avebury Manor, a large limb which is in danger of falling needs to be removed from a mature sycamore, while a branch needs to be removed from a sycamore overhanging the village car park before it splits from the trunk.
At the Lodge, an overgrown goat willow is pushing against a historic brick wall and needs to be cut back, while dead wood needs to be removed from four lime trees that form a column north of the village.
And at the Trust’s staff car park, squirrels have damaged the crown of a field maple. The charity hopes pollarding will save the tree.
The trees form part of the village’s Conservation Area.
Avebury is the UK’s only village enclosed by a stone circle.
Avebury henge and stone circles are managed by The National Trust on behalf of English Heritage, and the two organisations share the cost of managing and maintaining the property.
The Trust, which is headquartered in Swindon, also owns and manages Avebury Manor, the Great Barn, and the Alexander Keiller Museum.
A decision on the Trust’s application is expected from Wiltshire Council towards the end of January.