Witney News - Council branches out to maintain District’s trees

Council branches out to maintain District’s trees

Essential maintenance work is now being carried out on trees across West Oxfordshire following a district wide tree survey.

West Oxfordshire District Council invited Treework Environmental Practice to assess the condition of the 12,000 individual trees and 35 hectares of woodland that fall under its authority.

The survey included plotting, on electronic maps, the position of each tree and details such as species, size and condition to highlight what work was required.

The data captured enables the District Council to proactively manage the trees for amenity purposes. All work identified as being required within a year of the survey is now being carried out by Oxfordshire-based tree surgery company Complete Tree Services.


Cllr David Harvey, Cabinet Member for Environment said: “We have a wonderful variety of trees in West Oxfordshire which are vital to our local towns and rural areas from an environmental and aesthetic standpoint. Carrying out a regular survey helps us to improve and enhance their health, safety and quality.”

“Since our first tree survey and subsequent works in 2006 there has been a marked reduction in the number of public liability claims received. We plan to re-survey all the trees on our land every five years.”

Complete Tree Services are currently working at North Leigh Common.

Luke Fay of Treework Environment Practice commented, "It is impressive to see a local authority who has taken steps both to manage their trees proactively and to measure the benefits of that process."