COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE-TERENURE AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

QUESTION NO. 2

QUESTION: Councillor A-M. Dermody

"To ask the Chief Executive to report on my request that a full tree programme be completed within Brookwood estate. The Chief Executive has accepted that the individual trees within the hedge have now grown to be very tall and have spread in width and would benefit from some height reduction and pruning, and vowed to reduce to combat wind stress during stormy weather conditions. Last year these trees were to have been inspected in detail and a specific  programme of work formulated to deal with the concerns of the residents, whilst at the same time ensuring the preservation of this important planting. A full assessment of the remaining trees within the estate was also to be carried out to identify any possible safety issues which may exist. Could you please let me have a copy of the report and confirm what works were done since I requested this report and what works are scheduled to be done in 2015, with local residents stating that the tall trees identified by Council as needing height reduction and pruning owing to the likely hazard during stormy weather not having been done. As with all requests from me please provide a realistic time frame for completion of all such works?"

REPLY:

The 2015 Tree Maintenance Programme includes a number of individual trees within Brookwood Estate that have been identified for pruning.  These are as follows: trees outside nos. 1, 17 and 23 Beech Walk and side of no. 6 Walnut View.  A small number of conifer trees located at the rear of no. 3 Walnut View that have been overtaken by ivy growth have been listed for removal. 

The survey of the trees on the public open space areas in the estate is scheduled to be undertaken during late spring/early summer of this year as soon as the trees are in full leaf to enable a full and complete assessment of their condition.  It is intended to engage with representatives of the estate's residents association prior to commencing the tree survey to discuss the particular issues to be addressed by the survey.  The timeframe for completion of the survey report is end of June and a copy of the report will be made available.  This survey will then inform a programme of planned tree maintenance works for Brookwood Estate, having particular regard to the importance and distinctive character of the trees in this estate.  

The line of beech trees have recently been inspected with a view to undertaking pruning works during 2015.  It is suggested that those trees that originally formed part of a linear beech hedge along Beech Walk be pruned to reduce their height.  There is sufficient branching lower down on these trees to restore the effect of a linear hedge when reduced in height.  However, the line of beech trees along Larch Drive have minimal branching lower down to provide cover except for ivy growth which should be removed and the visual impact of height reduction on these trees would be much more severe and potentially less pleasing aesthetically.  It is suggested that consideration be given to thinning out some of the beech trees from this section of the former hedge and to leave those remaining to develop into individual trees in keeping with the woodland effect of the estate.  Prior to commencing any works on the line of beech trees, it is proposed to discuss the above suggestions with representatives of the residents association over the coming weeks.