Brimblecombe

Torbay Hospital Newton Road Torquay TQ2 7AA

ATI001 - Populus serotina (Hybrid Black Poplar) - Fell to ground level. This tree has been highlighted in a recent survey in a Tree Safety Inspection Report commissioned by Torbay Hospital and was conducted in November 2022. The tree was inspected from ground level and an aerial inspection to assess defects in the main stem. As a result of the inspection the tree was highlighted to be removed on safety grounds. It is an over mature poplar, rooted on the edge of Lowes Bridge footpath (on the edge of a water course). It has a heavy lean towards the railway line, and if were to fail would certainly land on the tracks. Early 2022, a secondary limb failure occurred with the large section falling onto the footpath below. There is an extensive cavity at approximately 9m on the main stem which extends at least 1m, downwards. There's evidence that the rootplate has heaved slightly, with disturbed, loose soil on the tension side of the tree. It has now grown beyond the existing canopy line of the surrounding trees, which is now introducing an increased wind load (prevailing westerly). It was originally highlighted in previous surveys to be removed, but I believe the applications were declined. The hospital are more than happy to re-plant.