Gusty conditions keep tree teams busy in Exeter

Published: 17 January 2020

High winds and driving rain have kept workers at Exeter City Council busy this week, dealing with a number of fallen trees.

A willow tree came crashing down at Salmonpool, behind Isca College on Thursday afternoon, blocking the footpath. Workers from the Council’s Parks & Open Space team attended and were able to clear the path within an hour, ensuring walkers and cyclists could continue with their journeys.

Gusts of up to 40mph caused a number of trees to fall across the city on Tuesday and Thursday.

A major limb came down from a cedar tree in St Thomas churchyard on Tuesday evening. No damage was done to any of the surrounding tombs and the area was cordoned off by the Council’s tree officers. The tree was inspected for structural integrity and fortunately passed the test.

At Clapperbrook allotments a dead elm tree fell into an industrial unit yard at Marsh Barton and was cleared by Council contractors on Friday morning.

The Council’s Public Realm team have been busy taking a number of enquiries about fallen trees and limbs, of which tree officers have had to investigate to determine ownership and responsibility.

Usually after high winds, the Council continues to receive reports of failed trees for up to a week or so afterwards.

People can ‘Report a problem with a tree’  on the Council website. The site allows information to be sent to tree officers immediately, allowing them to investigate the problem.

When reporting a tree it is really important to give a location and preferably a phone number. The more information the better though and the following is a useful guide:

• Accurate location (preferably a nearby house number, building or other point of reference)
• Nature of the problem (fallen tree, hung up tree, approximate size of tree or failed part etc.)
• Does it require urgent attention?
• Contact name and phone number of person who is calling in the problem just in case tree inspector can’t find the problem and needs to follow up with a call to get more specific information.