Latest news with #treeSafety
The Independent
4 days ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Warning not to sit under trees after series of ‘Sudden Branch Drop Syndrome' incidents
A local council has urged residents not to sit underneath or near trees after large branches spontaneously fell down. Harrow Council has issued safety notices after branches fell in Standmore, Hatch End and Pinner parks in north-west London. There were no reported injuries. The council says the issue is down to Sudden Branch Drop Syndrome, which has no known cause. Heatwaves and changes in tree moisture are believed to be a factor. 'Some incidents of sudden branch drop have occurred in the borough during the June heatwave,' the notice read. The council has carried out additional inspections of trees in all the parks, as well as near play areas and outdoor gyms. They have not found reason to believe any additional trees are hazardous, but have asked the public to be aware of the issue and to report any concerns via their website. 'Trees are vital to our environment and wildlife, and we remain committed to maintaining and growing our tree stock,' it added. 'They provide better air quality, reduce flooding, and are good for mental health and wellbeing.' Sudden Branch Drop Syndrome typically affects large trees such as oak, beech and horse chestnut. It usually occurs after a long, dry spell followed by a sudden downpour of rain. The branches then fall in subsequent, calm conditions. In 2012, a woman was killed at Kew Gardens after the branch of a tree suddenly fell on top of her in the Royal Botanical Gardens. Kew Gardens described the incident at the time as a 'terrible freak accident'.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Council tells park visitors not to sit under trees amid fears branches could collapse on people below - days after girl, 7, was crushed to death by falling foliage
Park visitors are being warned to avoid sitting, playing or gathering underneath large trees, a fortnight after a seven-year-old girl died when one collapsed on her. Harrow Council in North West London has issued safety notices after branches were reported to have suddenly fallen at parks in Stanmore, Hatch End and Pinner. Experts believe the branches collapsed due to Sudden Branch Drop Syndrome (SBDS), which can impact trees such as oak, beech and horse chestnut in dry spells. The local authority carried out additional inspections of trees in its parks near play areas and outdoor gyms, with none found to be in a hazardous condition. Despite no injuries being reported in Harrow, officials have put up notices in parks advising visitors not to sit or gather under large trees due to the potential risk. SBDS can impact seemingly-healthy trees on calm days during the summer, meaning it can be very difficult to predict and therefore poses a safety concern. While no exact cause has been determined, some experts believe it could be related to moisture levels or linked to bacteria - and that it is more likely in older trees. Georgie Power from the charity Trees for Cities, which plants and looks after trees, told BBC London: 'What we think it is, is when the trees are put under huge amounts of stress from dehydration and heat, it's something similar to self-amputation. Harrow Council in North West London has issued safety notices warning visitors to parks 'So the trees aren't getting enough water into the branches, and because of that they're cutting off branches to kind of preserve the rest of the tree.' London has more than eight million trees, and Harrow is the only council in the UK known to have issued such a notice. A Harrow Council spokesman told MailOnline: 'Following recent incidents of fallen branches in the borough, we have a started to carry out additional inspections of trees in our parks near play areas and outdoor gyms - none of which are found to be hazardous. 'Public safety is our priority, and as a precaution, notices have been placed in parks advising people not to sit or gather under large trees due to the potential risk of a branch suddenly falling. 'There isn't a known cause for this - heatwaves and changes in tree moisture levels are considered a possible factor. 'Trees are vital to our environment and wildlife, and we remain committed to maintaining and growing our tree stock. They provide better air quality, reduce flooding, and is good for mental health and wellbeing. ' It comes after a shocking tragedy last month at Chalkwell Park in Southend-on-Sea which saw a seven-year-old girl die when a tree collapsed on June 28. The ancient tree encircled by a bench as it appeared in the years before its collapse last month Leonna Ruka, from Dagenham, was killed and four other children were injured after the tree fell while they were enjoying the warm summer weather in the park. Despite members of the public rushing to try and lift the tree and the efforts of emergency services shortly afterwards, Leonna died from the falling object. Four other children were taken to hospital, with a six-year-old girl also in a critical condition - and Essex Police have begun an investigation. In September 2012, a woman was fatally injured when a large tree branch fell on her at Kew Gardens in South West London in what was described by a corner as a 'ghastly accident'. Accounts manager Erena Wilson, 31, from Hanwell, was walking through the Royal Botanical Gardens when the branch crashed down on her. A lawyer representing Kew told an inquest in 2014 that 66million people had visited the gardens over a period of more than 50 years and only one other person had been killed by a tree.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Sudden Branch Drop Syndrome warnings issued in north-west London
People have been warned not to sit underneath or near trees after a number of large branches fell suddenly in some north-west London notices were issued by Harrow Council after branches fell in Stanmore, Hatch End and Pinner. No one was reported to have been injured. The council said it was due to Sudden Branch Drop Syndrome, which has no known cause, but heatwaves and changes in tree moisture levels could be a inspections have been made of trees in parks, near play areas and outdoor gyms, the council said, and none so far have been found to be hazardous. The council asked the public to be aware of the issue, and to report any concerns with local trees via their website. It added: "Trees are vital to our environment and wildlife, and we remain committed to maintaining and growing our tree stock."They provide better air quality, reduce flooding, and is good for mental health and wellbeing." SUDDEN BRANCH DROPAffects large trees such as oak, beech and horse chestnutCan occur after a long dry spell, especially if followed by a sudden downpourBranches often fall in calm conditions In 2012, a woman was killed at Kew Gardens after a branch fell unexpectedly from a tree in the the Royal Botanical Gardens referred to the incident at the time as a "terrible freak accident".
