Trees

Highway trees

Highway trees are classed as trees planted in the footway along roads, trees planted on roundabouts, central reservations, highway verges, in car parks and along adopted public rights of way. Highway trees are important for pollution control in built up areas.

Planned work schedules

Highway trees are included on a 5 year cyclical pruning regime for non-pollarded trees (3 years for Pollarded trees).

They are also subject to an annual maintenance regime, which involves removing basal and low growth.

Specific programmes include:

An annual inspection by a qualified Arboriculturalist to ensure public safety
An annual maintenance program to remove basal weeds and suckers
A 5 year cyclical pruning program (3 years for Pollarded trees)
An annual tree planting programme to ensure continued stock levels

For specific details of when a particular road is scheduled to be pruned, please see our Cyclical Highway Pruning Schedule (available shortly).

Highway tree planting

If highway trees are removed but not replaced, the site is recorded for when future monies become available. Sometimes a socket may be temporarily tarmaced over to make the empty socket safe.

If you have a tree socket near you that you would like to see re-planted, please email trees@lbbd.gov.uk.

Public footways damaged by tree roots

Tree roots can sometimes cause surface damage to our public footway. This is an accepted part of having urban highway trees and can be repaired. Contact Barking and Dagenham Direct on 020 8215 3000 to request an inspection.

It should be noted that minor cracks that do not present a trip hazard will most likely not warrant repair.

Driveway crossovers and trees

We do not remove public trees specifically to allow for crossovers. Trees will not be moved or replaced to facilitate easier access onto driveways.

The highway tree stock cannot be undermined in this way as it damages the landscape feature of a tree-lined road.

If you wish to apply for a driveway crossover, please contact Barking and Dagenham Direct on 020 8215 3000.

Contact

Paul Clark

Arboricultural Manager

4th Floor

Maritime House

1 Linton Road

Barking

IG11 8HG

Tel: 020 8227 3556

Fax: 020 8227 3129

Email: paul.clark@lbbd.gov.uk|