Residents often ask Residents often ask us about the street trees in their road.

There are over a thousand street trees in the Ward, and they are an important contribution to the pleasant, green, suburban character of Sutton which we all cherish. Unfortunately at this time of year they drop a lot of leaves, and these are being progressively cleared up. Trees are selectively pruned on a four year cycle. A survey of the trees in Sutton South Ward has recently been completed by trained arborculturalists and a programme of tree pruning and felling will be completed in the Ward between the end of December 2014 and March 2015. The arborculturalists have carried out a full health and condition survey and the pruning recommended is to remove or minimise the potential for the trees to cause harm to people or property. Unfortunately the programme will involve the loss of a few trees, nineteen in all. We are only taking down trees which are dead, or dying, or diseased, and dangerous.

Our contractor City Suburban Tree Surgeons will begin the work shortly and expect it will be completed by the end of March 2015. If a tree near you is felled and, after it is felled, you would like the Council to consider a replacement, let us know. The tree planting budget is, like all Council budgets, under some pressure. Residents and residents’ organisation sometimes fund planting and this is always possible.