Two mature Lime trees covered by a TPO within rear garden. Situated to the North corner of the rear garden, both trees form one communal crown with less than 3.0m from centres, making the planting of these trees exceptionally close. The eastern tree, tree situated to the right with your back to the property, is host to Kretzschmaria deusta. This was observed in both mature state and juvenile form at ground level to the south east and northern aspect. The juvenile fruiting bodies were in abundance indicating potential advanced/advancing decay. This fungus causes a soft rot; however, it should be noted, its failure is usually a ceramic brittle failure rather than its rot mode name's sake may suggest. It is my opinion that K deusta on Lime is significant, particularly when there is a proliferation of fruiting bodies which was observed during my visit. On this basis I feel, given the trees location and associated target risk, that further decay testing is not required as the external evidence is clear. Any reduction to mitigate the risk would ultimately cause physiological harm to the tree, removing the resources required for defence leading to ideal conditions for the fungi to further advance, leaving management options limited to complete removal. The western tree or tree to left when viewed with the house behind showed no obvious evidence of K deusta, the two trees do form a communal crown, there is a possibility of root grafting to the neighbouring tree which may lead to conditions in which K deusta may also colonise this tree, particularly as at a very minimum this tree will need to be reduced as it will be subject to wind forces it has not developed to cope with once its sister tree is removed. This reduction could cause the physiological conditions for K deusta to develop, it may be possible that K deusta is present and active within the tree with no external fruiting bodies present. On the above points I would look to remove both trees at the same time. Dismantle both trees in sections to ground level using mechanised tree removal.

4 Lime Grove, Southmoor, Abingdon, OX13 5DN