| Re: Help with Sick Horse Chestnut Tree
Si, only just come across this now, so you may have already resolved the problem one way or another. Anyway, I am an Environmental Consultant and worked with an Arborist last summer carrying out Tree Risk Assessments for a large private school in Somerset. While there he told me of an alarming rise in cases of Bleeding Canker in Horse Chestnuts, which sounds like the problem you have.
I believe you are right to be alarmed as this often leads to the tree dying, especially in larger trees. The fact that the LPA Tree Officer does not see it as a risk suggests two things, one that he did (at that time) have little experience of this disease and it's effect of Horse Chestnuts or that he believed your tree was not infected with this disease.
Which ever is the case the best approach would be to appoint a qualified Arborist (not just an experienced tree surgeon) to carry out a detailed tree risk assessment. If there is a danger of the tree or a major limb falling then the report will highlight this. Present this to the council officer and he will have little reason to refuse you consent. If he still refuses consent, then I believe you would be well within your rights to give the officer 3 months warning, conduct the necessary ecology (bat and bird) survey and fell the tree anyway, as it is a significant risk to life.
With regards replanting, take advice from the same Arborist, as to which newly planted tree would not be reinfected with the same fungus that has infected your existing tree.
If you do not know any affordable arborists, I can recommend a company called Chris Groves Associates. They are outside your area but may travel that far or can at least give you more qualified advice.
John Harcombe, Harcombe Environmental Services, Somerset  |