A 300-year-old Fife tree has been saved from the chop.
The Greenbelt Company had asked for permission to fell the Crossford sycamore a significant ”heritage tree” which is recorded in the veteran tree register after last December’s storms.
Despite being in good health and condition for a tree of its age, the sycamore has had a recent history of major branch failure. In May 2011 two large limbs fell, causing damage to the roof of a neighbouring house.
Following this Greenbelt asked for permission to remove some limbs from the tree, one of the oldest and biggest sycamores in Scotland.
However, before the application was processed last December’s storm damage meant emergency work had to be undertaken to make it safe.
Now rather lop-sided and imbalanced, a new application to bring down the tree was lodged this year.
While the householder whose home was damaged and Greenbelt wanted to see the tree come down, there were many objections lodged, including those from the Woodland Trust and Tree Verifier for Ancient Tree Hunt.
Because of the complexity of the situation, Fife Council called for an independent report which suggested the crown of the tree be reduced by 25-30%.
Photo David Wardle