Exeter to lose two mature trees amid safety concerns

Two of Exeter’s mature trees are set to be felled due to safety concerns, the city council has confirmed, though replacements will be planted to help maintain the city’s green spaces.

In Heavitree, a mature beech tree at Mont-Le-Grand parkland has been compromised by a root-decaying fungus known as meripilus giganteus. The tree has shown increasing signs of decline, including reduced leaves and significant deadwood in its crown, indicating that the roots may fail in the near future. The council plans to retain the lower stem as a natural bench and feature for the park.

Meanwhile, an ash tree at Stoke Hill Crescent in Pennsylvania has developed advanced symptoms of ash dieback disease. After careful monitoring, the council determined that it poses a risk to public safety and will be removed, with a replacement tree to be planted in its place.

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Cllr Ruth Williams, Lead Councillor for City Management, said: “It is always incredibly sad when a tree comes to the end of its life, and we do everything we possibly can to prolong the lives of trees in the city. However, we have to act if a tree is in significant decline and represents a risk to public safety.”

The council works closely with the Devon Wildlife Trust to mitigate the loss of ash trees and support Exeter’s treescapes by planting new trees nearby.