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Sunday 8 April 2018

Knowle relocation project: work to move Ginkgo tree to start Monday 9th April

The Ginkgo tree on the upper lawns of the Knowle parkland is to be moved:
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project > "the Ginkgo might be saved, although the chances of its survival are probably less than evens"

The Herald has covered the story:
Work to start ahead of relocating Gingko tree in Sidmouth's Knowle gardens | Latest Sidmouth and Ottery News - Sidmouth Herald

As has the press office of the District Council:
5 April 2018 - Moving the Gingko tree at Knowle - East Devon

Here is the take from the Express & Echo:

Work begins to move beloved Gingko tree to make way for £7.5m redevelopment

The oldest recorded Gingko biloba tree is 3,500 years old.


1COMMENT

Daniel Clark Local Democracy Reporter For Devon


5 APR 2018

Work to move a beloved tree that could live for another 1,000 years to a new site will begin on Monday. The Ginkgo tree from the lawn in front of East Devon District Council's Sidmouth offices at the Knowle will be moved to another nearby spot lower down in the gardens. The oldest recorded Ginkgo biloba tree is 3,500 years old.

The historic tree needs to be moved ahead of PegasusLife’s planned £7.5m redevelopment into a 113-apartment assisted-living community for older people.



The Gingko tree at Knowle (Image: Pegasus Life)

A specialist tree moving company will start work on Monday, April 9, to move the tree and an initial ground penetration radar survey to ascertain the location of any existing services or obstructions has already been carried out.

An East Devon District Council spokesman said that the preparatory work will involve the excavation of a trench with self-supporting sloping sides, around the tree. The size of the trench will depend upon the tree’s root system and soil profile, but typically it will be between 1m to 1.5m deep.

The formation of the trench and the judicial pruning of the roots within will enable the tree to form a root ball over the coming months until relocation, which PegasusLife has advised will be during 2019. This trench will remain open until the tree has been relocated, with the excavation being protected with Heras fencing. The main roots will be pruned before the ‘transplanting’ of the tree to stimulate growth and give the tree more chance of survival.


Where the tree is now and where it will be moved to at the Knowle in Sidmouth

The tree will then be rootballed - where it is enclosed in hessian with a non-galvanised chainlink, before a frame will be attached.

Movement of the tree will take place by the specialist tree movement company sliding or rolling it along the level terraces and then at the planting site, it will be planted and secured into an excavated pit and then backfilled with soil full of funghi and worms, before an irrigation system will be installed.

As part of their consultation plans for the Knowle site, PegasusLife asked residents and Sidmouth Arboretum where the best location for the tree to be moved was after a desire for it to be protected was expressed.

The area in the gardens where the tree will move to was chosen because it will remain in public ownership, will be near existing mature trees, so it will not obstruct any views across the Knowle and it is close to its current location, so reducing the distance it has to be moved.


The Gingko tree in front of the Knowle in Sidmouth (Image: EDDC)

Planning inspector Michael Boniface in January allowed Pegasus Life’s plans for a 113-apartment assisted-living community for older people after the plans were initially turned down by the council’s own development management committee.

The contract of sale between PegasusLife and the council is now unconditional and both parties are, respectively, committed to buy and sell the Knowle site for a £7.5m fee.


PegasusLife's plans for Knowle

Blackdown House, the new headquarters being built for the council which overlooks the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Beauty, is well under way at the Heathpark site in Honiton and the target for completion and occupation is December.

Some staff will also be based in Exmouth town hall, for which a £1.5m upgrade was completed in November.

It is expected that PegasusLife will start developing the Knowle site in Sidmouth next spring.


Work begins to move beloved Gingko tree to make way for £7.5m redevelopment - Devon Live
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