The tree outside my house is too big. Can it be removed and replaced with a more suitable smaller species?
This rather unenvironmental suggestion isn’t possible under the current policy. A tree can only be removed where it has been found to be dead, dying or dangerous or removal has been agreed by committee. We understand that large, mature trees in residential areas can be intimidating, but the London Borough of Sutton encourage residents to recognise that it is not possible to eliminate all risks without removing every tree in Sutton that has the potential to cause damage; such an approach would detract from the immense contribution trees make to our environment. No tree, of any size, can be totally guaranteed to remain standing with all of its branches throughout its life. There is always the risk of unexpected/adverse weather conditions or there may be hidden defects within the tree that not even a detailed examination would reveal. A study of trees uprooted in the October ’87 storm revealed no link between the height of trees and their propensity to fall in high winds.
