Silva Tree Surgeons were recently contracted to pollard several huge Poplar trees in Westbury-sub-Mendip, Somerset. These trees dominated the skyline and spanned across multiple small back gardens, with limbs overhanging fences, patios, outbuildings, and other property features. Due to their size and location, this was a job where precision was critical and there was absolutely no margin for error.
Tight Drop Zones and Complex Rigging
The Poplars were growing in confined domestic gardens, leaving extremely tight drop zones for dismantling. With limited space and valuable property directly beneath the canopy, every single branch had to be rigged and lowered safely. Our climbers worked carefully from the top down, using advanced rigging equipment to control the descent of heavy timber and avoid any risk to sheds, fences, or garden structures.
The photos show the challenges faced by our climbers working at height, with chainsaws and rigging systems in operation directly above domestic gardens. Every cut had to be planned in advance, ensuring the weight and swing of each piece was properly controlled.
Why Pollarding Poplars Is Important
Pollarding is a long-established technique for managing fast-growing species like Poplar. Without regular management, Poplars can quickly reach unmanageable heights, creating safety concerns in residential areas. Pollarding reduces their size, prevents dangerous overextension, and thereby reduces the hazard they pose in built-up areas.
Professional Tree Surgery in Mendip and Somerset
This project highlights the importance of using qualified and experienced tree surgeons for large, complex jobs. At Silva Tree Surgeons, we provide expert tree pollarding, crown reductions, and removals across Westbury-sub-Mendip, Wells, Cheddar, and the wider Mendip Hills area, always working to BS3998 standards with safety as our top priority.