Lewisham/DC/25/142185

Location

Approximate location

Proposal

CENTRAL (by toilets): ONE Ash (T156)(approx ht.7m) FELL.Reason: adjacent to public toilets, specimen has twin stems leaning away from each other previously pollarded at 4m, prompting vigorous regrowth of approx. 3m & forming young new crown, there are fungal fruiting bodies at the pollard heads, which are cracking and decaying. The tree has been monitored over a number of years and shown consistent decline, health & safety. A native tree will be planted as a replacement.CENTRAL: ONE Lime (T39)(ht.10m) CROWN REDUCE HEIGHT by 3m to ht.7m, REDUCE SPREAD by 2m from 8m to 6m. Reason: dieback in main leader & cavity at old reduction point, reduction to shape canopy, pruning to suitable points, not beyond any previous points. CENTRAL: ONE Oak (T48)(approx ht.12m) MONOLITH to ht.6m.Reason: it is suffering from Acute Oak Decline, extensive bleeding of a dark, sticky fluid from small lesions or splits in the bark plates, canopy dieback & large woodpecker holes showing poor structural integrity, has been monitored over a number of years; shown consistent decline. It will be left as a high monolith as habitat for birds.REAR (nr. north boundary): ONE dead Horse Chestnut (T60)(approx. ht.14m) FELL.Reason: it has died, a native tree will be planted as a replacement. REAR (nr. north boundary): ONE Holly (T63)(approx.ht.8m) FELL. Reason: strong westward lean over the footpath that runs alongside the Horniman grounds, poor physiological condition & a sparse crown have been noted over a number of surveys, another holly to be planted as replacement.Informative A: the replacement tree planting is greatly welcomed - suggest large canopy non-native species for T156 and T60 are acceptable to maintain arboretum landscape character of Horniman Gardens, such as Indian Horse Chestnut, hop hornbeam, Caucasian elm (Zelkova carpinifolia), wingnut, Japanese Pagoda Tree, Golden Rain Tree (Koelreuteria paniculata), Tulip tree. Informative B: retaining safe high stumps of ash (T156) are encouraged to show the importance of deadwood below ground for the life cycle of the stag beetle and biodiversity. Informative C: please create habitat log piles with arisings for wildlife and biodiversity.

Key dates

1. Received 19 Nov 2025
2. Validated 19 Nov 2025
3. Started 19 Nov 2025
4. Decided 15 Dec 2025

Planning history / related applications

No related planning applications have been identified in the current public OGL dataset.