T1 - Stone Pine Dimensions: Approx 18m Height, N12m, E6m, S8m, W2m. Proposed Works: Remove lowest limb back to the stem. Justification: The tree has a large over-extended lever arm growing to the north-west, roughly 12m in length. It protrudes well outside the line of the rest of the canopy and has been the subject of at least two previous applications, including one rejected by Richmond last year, showing this limb has been a concern to multiple separate arborists over a period of time. Recently a limb above it failed, came down and caused significant damage to the listed boundary wall to Old Palace Yard. The remaining lever arm sits above a busy public footpath with frequent historical tours passing through, a busy roadway and a run of car parking bays. Photographs from only two years ago show a noticeable flattening of the limb since, which adds to our concerns around end loading and mechanical stress at the union. With the failure we have been dealing with, there are no sufficient points left in the tree to brace from. On that basis we believe removal of the limb is the only suitable course of action, and given the target beneath it and the failure that has already occurred and no substantial reduction points.

Palace Gate House, Old Palace Yard, Richmond, TW9 1PD