160 new trees to be planted as part of £3 million park improvement programme
News release issued:
Work is continuing at Brinton Park, Kidderminster as part of Wyre Forest District Council’s £3 million programme. The improvements include a new pavilion, better paths, new planting and landscape improvements designed to strengthen the park for the future.
As part of these works, detailed site investigations have been carried out to confirm ground conditions around the construction area. Independent tree specialists have found four trees along the Sutton Road boundary which have been affected by changes to ground conditions. They advise that the trees now present a danger to people using the park and to traffic on the adjacent road.
The trees are two small-leaved limes and two sycamores. They will be removed on 18 and 19 December. The removal will be carried out as a controlled operation within a cordoned-off area to ensure public safety.
Councillor Ian Hardiman, Wyre Forest District Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure, Arts and Community Safety, said:
"Nobody wants to lose trees from our parks, and this wasn't a decision we took lightly. We've looked at every option with our expert teams, but the safety advice is clear – these trees are now a risk and we have to act.
"The good news is that we're replacing them many times over. We're planting 160 new trees across the district, including ten in Brinton Park. Four new trees are already in the ground, with more to follow as the improvement works continue."
The further 150 trees will be planted at Stourvale Nature Reserve where conditions are ideal for them to thrive.
The council is committed to protecting Brinton Park’s trees wherever possible and is working closely with arboricultural specialists throughout the improvement programme.
Wyre Forest District Council is delivering the improvements with McPhillips (Wellington) Ltd, supported by £2.4 million in funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.