Trick or "Tree"t!
When the job involves checking trees for bats, you know Halloween must be just around the corner... and that’s exactly what our team faced at Churchill Avenue in Aylesbury.
What happened at Churchill Avenue
If you've passed by the railway bridge at Churchill Avenue recently, you might have noticed some changes. We have removed a group of trees next to the bridge as part of important maintenance work. The aim is to protect the structure of the bridge and ensure the long-term safety for everyone using it.
Why the trees had to be tackled
During the feasibility study of the Churchill Avenue Railway bridge, our tree specialists discovered that the trees near the bridge were causing a displacement issue. This means the roots were pushing where they shouldn't, exerting pressure on the bridge and creating potential safety risks to its structure.
Map view of Churchill Avenue railway bridge, showing the tracks on the far right.
To address the problem, it was decided that the trees needed to be removed. Before taking any action, we conducted an ecology survey and engaged with the local community to ensure residents and businesses neighbouring the site understood the need for the works to take place.
How we did it and what we found
In August, our ecology team visited the site and conducted a survey checking the condition of seven trees to see if they had any potential roost features for bats, such as woodpecker holes, cracks or hollows in trees. The survey confirmed no bats were roosting in the trees, making it safe to proceed with removal. To minimise our carbon footprint, we sent one local and one non-local team member to the ecology survey site, cutting down on unnecessary long-distance travel.
Alongside the ecology survey, we ran a four-week public consultation to explain to the local and wider community why the trees needed to be removed and the plans to minimise the environmental impact of this. Alongside reviewing the consultation responses and feedback, as part of our commitment, we are planning to plant new trees nearby to offset the number of trees that have been removed.
The trees have now been safely removed, and the bridge is secure and open for use again. While the bats are busy getting ready for Halloween, we've been focused on treating the region's bridges to ensure there are no tricks, just safe travels.
