Tree works

Lymington & Pennington Town Council invites tenders for a programme of arboricultural works across multiple council-owned sites, including Forest Gate Gardens, Lymington Sports Ground, Hillditch, Vitre Gardens, St. Thomas Park and Cemetery, Grove Gardens, Old Orchards, Withy Woods, Kings Crescent, Farnleys Mead, Yaldhurst Lane Recreation Ground, Woodside Park, Pamplyn Close, Woodley Gardens, Monument Site, Lower Buckland, Alexandra Road and Bath Road.

The works include a combination of tree removals, pruning, inspections and ongoing maintenance, as identified by the Council's appointed tree consultant. Tasks to be undertaken include (but are not limited to):

Felling and Coppicing: Removal of elm, sycamore, ash, pine, beech, birch and other species showing signs of disease, decay or structural failure, with some trees to be retained as habitat poles. Group felling of diseased elms and coppicing of hazel and alder also required.

Crown Works: Crown lifting to statutory highway clearances, crown reductions to clear buildings, streetlamps and services, selective crown thinning and pruning to improve structure and safety.

Deadwood and Ivy Management: Removal of major deadwood from mature specimens, ivy severance and clearance from stems and scaffold limbs.

Specialist Surveys: Use of Picus tomography, resistograph testing and aerial inspections to assess structural integrity and decay in selected oak, walnut, cedar and pine specimens.

Health Monitoring: Annual monitoring of ash trees colonised with Chalara (ash dieback), and reporting of any significant changes in crown condition.

Cable Bracing: Installation of synthetic bracing systems to specified oaks to improve structural stability.

General Arboricultural Maintenance: Clearance around footpaths, streetlamps and overhead services; pruning to improve public safety and maintain the long-term health of the tree stock.

All works are to be carried out in accordance with relevant British Standards (BS 3998:2010 "Tree Work - Recommendations"), Arboricultural Association best practice, and current health and safety legislation. Contractors must ensure appropriate disposal or recycling of arisings, maintain safe working practices at all times, and liaise with the Council's officer on completion of inspections and monitoring tasks.