Oak, T220, at Pinewood which has recently dropped a significant limb onto the close mown recreational area that is part of the lower terrace. This area is used extensively by children during breaks and for sporting activities. The Oak is a mature specimen, set on the southern edge of LittleWoods. The tree forms part of the annual arboricultural inspections and has previously been subject to tree surgery operations to remove larger deadwood from the crown. The tree shed a large stem section earlier this month and this has revealed a section of internal brown rot in the failed section. This would not have been visible from a ground level survey but has clearly been developing for many years. The failure has left a large torn stub on the trunk. The tree is part of the woodland component and has grown and established with the trees adjacent. The crown is therefore generally asymmetric over the mown grass. The adjacent limb is now somewhat exposed to new forces and dynamic movement due to the loss of its companion section. This stem has three closely grouped branch removals at its mid-point and there is significant load upon this section. There are also a small number of extended limbs developing from the central upper crown that may also now experience increased load due to the loss of the adjacent section. These are, to some degree, less concerning as the prevailing winds remain constant and therefore load experience will not dramatically alter. However, there will inevitably be change in dynamics. I therefore recommend that a careful and selective reduction of the lower southern limbs, i.e. those over the recreational mown grass area, and those that extend from the upper general crown line, is carried out. The maximum length of material to be removed will be 3.0m and this will be achieved by a "drop crotch" process. This will effectively remove the leading shoot of that section but leave the secondary branches to obscure the cut and provide the continued growth point. Reduction points will be primarily those shown below: All cuts should be less than 100mm diameter. It may be necessary to select further small diameter sub branches to reduce, following the main removals shown, to ensure that no isolated sections are retained. Where possible the stated aim should be to reduce back to the canopy edge defined by the yews and edge of the mown lawn. All deadwood greater than 50mm diameter should be removed from the crown. All works will be undertaken to BS3998:2010 where applicable.

Pinewood School, Bourton, Swindon, SN6 8HZ