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Tree works significant in Hastings District

Thursday 24 April 2008, 10:25AM

By Hastings District Council

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HASTINGS

Hastings District residents will have noticed a significant increase in works being carried
out on civic trees, in the past two months.

A dedicated tree team has been formed to work as part of the Hastings District Council
parks service delivery unit. The team is strengthened by its arborists, log chipper and
specialist tree-climbing gear.

Chris Looij, Team Leader Trees at Hastings District Council, said the new tree team
carries out works which have, in the past, been handled by outside contractors.
“We are now able to work at height in the trees and dispose of the tree waste ourselves
which means we can complete a wide-ranging tree maintenance programme”, said Mr
Looij.

For a number of years a full programme of assessing and shaping each tree owned by
Hastings District Council has been challenging due to a lack of resource. This has now
been rectified and the team is working its way through every specimen in the area.

“Slowly but surely we are looking at the needs of each tree, then carrying out the work
which will best benefit that tree. It’s satisfying work because for many trees it has been a
long time coming”, said Mr Looij.
Works continue across the District.