Last month, an old horse chestnut tree in the churchyard became unsafe. We’ve consulted with several arboriculture experts, and explored every possible option for rescuing the tree. We are very sad to say there is no feasible way of making it safe in the long-term, so we’ve taken the difficult decision to fell the tree.
It is our policy to only fell trees as a last resort when they pose an unavoidable hazard to our visitors or buildings. The conker tree in question has had a lot of work done in recent years, reducing the canopy and installing bracing to make it safe. But this is no longer effective. A large crack has opened up between the trunk and an over-grown branch directly above the footpath. This will not heal and we have been advised that a large part of the heartwood in the trunk is rotten.
We know it will be missed by local people as it was a magnificent specimen. But we will replace it with fresh planting elsewhere in the grounds. So visitors to the Minster will still be enjoying the beauty and shelter of its trees in centuries to come.
We were also really pleased to be able to retain a different horse chestnut of a similar age and condition near to the west gate. This could be made safe to visitors, while allowing this ‘veteran’ tree to live out its years and continue to enhance the biodiversity of the churchyard for many more years. And we’re discussing with local woodworkers and sawmills whether we can give the timber from this grand old specimen a new life as something useful or beautiful (or both!).
Tree surgeons are scheduled to be on site from Monday 26 – Friday 30 October. Please take note of the path diversions and safety cautions while this complicated job is being done.
Thank you for your patience.