Tree management

As well as providing shelter from the wind and sun, trees also remove large amounts of pollutants from the environment. Trees not only improve the quality of life for local people, they also play an important role in natural cycles. Trees are important for wildlife and for timber products and by-products.

The trees within Chichester form an important landscape feature of the city. It is understood that planting of trees for ornamental purposes may have begun as far back as 1700s; some of the trees in the city centre are believed to be approximately 250 years old.
 
In 2002 a comprehensive survey was carried out on all trees in the parks, recreation grounds and open spaces managed by Chichester District Council. This survey identified the species, size, maturity and condition of the trees together with recommendations for work required to be carried out on a priority basis of 1 to 3.

During the winter of 2002 all the priority 1 work was undertaken which covered the removal of dead and dangerous trees and limbs. Priority 2 work was undertaken during the autumn of 2003 and included the removal of the less stable trees, which were leaning or decayed, and dead limbs on healthy trees. Priority 3 work has been undertaken during 2004 and continued into early 2005, it included mainly the removal of dead wood from the trees.
 
During 2005  tree surgery was carried out together with the re-inspection of trees, throughout the parks and open spaces, that require regular monitoring. In March 2006 tree surgery was carried out to the London Plane trees in New Park Road, Chichester, which involved temporary road closures on two Sundays.

For 2006/07 onward an arboricultural work programme has been introduced. This involves an annual inspection of the major park trees with a structural inspection every three years. Trees in public open spaces will be inspected every three years with a structural inspection every five years. As a result of these inspections a programme of tree surgery will be carried out.