Ref Specification of works, reasons for works based on arboricultural advice from Nathan Cantell Specification T.1. Horse Chestnut Section fell in safe and controlled manner to just above ground level. Reasons for the proposed works are listed and numbered below 1. The Horse Chestnut is in very poor health and offers low amenity value, it suffers from both Guignardia aesculi and the Horse Chestnut leaf miner and it is highly likely that it will only deteriorate as the years go by, particularly in light of our expected hotter dryer summers 2. To mitigate and help ease the above the client was advised to remove all fallen leaves and take them to the local authority waste facility - this is proving unsustainable as it produces an enormous quantity of leaves which all have to be picked up by hand, bagged and driven to the local facility in batches. 3. The client is very happy to replace the tree with a mature specimen native Hornbeam which will be more likely to thrive long term 4. The proposed landscape plan (attached) for the garden will greatly enhance the bio-diversity of the whole site - the client plans to plant 28 new trees, create an orchard with native meadow, a drought tolerant gravel garden, a shadier woodland area with native woodland meadows and a natural swimming pond with marginal planting and extensive native hedging. - Keeping the Horse Chestnut would jeopardise the viability of the proposed orchard and native meadow and therefore offer less long term bio diversity and amenity value to the whole area. 5. Because of where the tree is situated, it will be not be particularly noticeable from public places, therefore the loss of visual amenity for the local landscape will be minimal. Summary The proposed works will make a significant difference to clients use and enjoyment of their garden and will help promote a wider range of bio diversity, adding a huge amount of long term amenity and ecological value to the area. The area will be hugely improved with the proposed planting plan and because this tree is in declining health it is only a matter of time before it needs to be removed, it therefore makes sense to re plant this area as soon as possible. We feel that our reasons are enough to justify the works, and all far out way the any loss of any visual amenity.

Highwood, Mill Road, Lower Shiplake, RG9 3LX