Consultation about Tree Replacement on Dunkeld Road

Overview

The council is proposing to replace four Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) trees on Dunkeld Road with a species more suited to this urban environment.

The four redwood trees are already causing significant damage to surrounding surfaces and can grow to 35 metres tall with a trunk width of over a metre.

The council is proposing options 1A, 1B, or 1C.  One further option is being consulted on (option 2) but this is not recommended by the council.

The Sheffield Street Tree Partnership has been consulted and fully supports the approach.  The Sheffield Street Tree Partnership are continuing to work with the council and Amey to deliver the objectives of the Sheffield Street Tree Strategy.

Option 1 A

• We replace the 4 identified redwood trees plus plant an additional 6 trees on Dunkeld Road and a further 2 in the nearby area.
• We resurface the pavement and road.
• The road remains a two – way street with on – street parking.
• The newly planted trees grow to a suitable size, causing minimal damage to nearby surfaces and property.

Option 1 B

• We replace the 4 identified redwood trees plus plant an additional 4 trees on Dunkeld Road and a further 4 in the nearby area.
• We resurface the pavement and road.
• The road remains a two – way street with on – street parking.
• The newly planted trees grow to a suitable size, causing minimal damage to nearby surfaces and property.

Option 1 C

• We replace the 4 identified redwood trees, no additional planting for Dunkeld Road and a further 8 trees will be planted in the nearby area.
• We resurface the pavement and road.
• The road remains a two – way street with on – street parking.
• The newly planted trees grow to a suitable size, causing minimal damage to nearby surfaces and property.

Option 2

Option 2 is being consulted on but this option is not recommended by the council.

• We retain the 4 identified redwood trees, for now *
• Dunkeld Road is made a one-way street with reduced or no on - street parking.
• The existing trees will most likely double in size in the next 20 years.
• We resurface the pavement and road, but it will not be possible to repair all areas of footway damaged or displaced by tree roots.

*It is highly likely that the trees will need to be removed within around 20 years' time to prevent further damage to surrounding surfaces and property.

Please see the associated document attached SCC Visual Doc - Dunkeld Road. 

Please see the map below (or attached) for the locations of the existing trees and proposed locations for the new replacement trees.  (Please note that to avoid overcounting locations, the map features two views of Dunkeld Road from each end. Therefore, locations marked outside numbers 48, 49/51 and 53 are repeated in both views).   

Further explanation:

Red squares - locations of the existing redwood trees and their proposed replacement tree types if options 1A, 1B or 1C are chosen:

• Outside number 1 - we proposed to replace the tree with a Eucommia ulmoides (commonly known as Guttapercha) in the same place as the original tree. 
• Adjacent to number 1 - we propose to replace the tree with a Zelkova serrata (commonly known as Japanese zelkova) in the same place as the original tree.
• Outside numbers 27/29 - we propose to replace the tree with a Zelkova serrata (commonly known as Japanese zelkova) in the same place as the original tree.
• Outside number 48 - we propose to replace the tree with a Eucommia ulmoides (commonly known as Guttapercha) in the same place as the original tree. 

Green triangles - potentially good locations for additional trees if options 1A  or 1B are chosen:

• Near to the junction of Ecclesall Road - we propose to plant an Ulmus new horizon (commonly known as Elm - resistant cultivar).
• Near to Bartin Close - we propose to plant a Zelkova serrata (Japanese zelkova).
• Outside numbers 49/51 - we propose to plant an Ulmus new horizon (Elm - resistant cultivar).
• Outside number 53 - we propose to plant an Ulmus new horizon (Elm - resistant cultivar).

Yellow Triangles - Possible additional planting locations if option 1A is chosen

(Please note that when planting locations are chosen, every care is taken to avoid underground services.  However, it is not unusual to find them present at a later stage, which may mean that we have to choose another location).   

• Outside number 59 - we propose to plant an Ulmus new horizon (Elm - resistant cultivar).
• Outside number 23/25 - we propose to plant a Eucommia ulmoides (Guttapercha)

Information (below and also attached) about the 3 new tree replacement species:

Each species of tree has been selected by our professional arboricultural inspectors as being suitable highway tree species for the locations.

The above are pages 161, 336 and 337 of The Tree Species Selection for Green Infrastructure - A Guide for Specifiers. 

Source: Hirons, A.D. and Sjöman, H. (2019) Tree Species Selection for Green Infrastructure: A Guide for Specifiers, Issue 1.3. Trees & Design Action Group.

Tree Species Selection for Green Infrastructure - Trees and Design Action Group (tdag.org.uk)

Why your views matter

The Sheffield Tree Partnership have developed the Sheffield Street Tree Partnership Strategy.  This sets out our commitment to explain to local residents the reasons behind decisions to replace trees, and provide the opportunity to challenge these decisions through an open and transparent process.

A copy of the strategy is available at: https://www.wildsheffield.com/getinvolved/sheffield-street-tree-partnership/street-tree-strategy/

What happens next

This consultation has now closed.

We will provide a summary of the results of the consultation on this page, and so watch this space.