Background

BACKGROUND TO THE TREE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AND CURRENT TOWPATH CLOSURES

Tree works were historically carried out along the towpath to fell dangerous trees, to cut branches, and to carry out ad-hoc tree work. As this was small in scale there was no need for formal towpath closure orders, known as Temporary Traffic Restriction Orders ‘TTRO’s to facilitate this. Only about ten trees per year were tackled, and any emergency felling of unstable trees arisings, which are the stumps and branch cuttings, were either left in stacks, in situ, or they were burned adjacent to the towpath. Some larger limbs were removed as firewood or recycled as reusable timber.

The Autumn of 2021 saw two major storms, the first of which brought down five trees and destabilised a couple more. The following week the Conservators made the decision to close the towpath for public safety reasons. This was a prudent decision as a second storm, brought down further trees. An Emergency Temporary Traffic Restrictions Order (TTRO) was applied for in this instance for a closure of the towpath. This enabled urgent work to be carried out, to remove the fallen trees and to remove other trees considered dangerous.

With a very tight budget to manage this land, and with no financial contribution from its main users, the Conservancy had to maintain their trees based around the financial constraints.

FUNDING AND MAINTENANCE

The maintenance of this area is not supported by funding from central or local government,

(county, city, or parish), charitable organisations, or other public funding sources. Instead, it is largely financed by fees from vessel license holders, who bear the primary responsibility for covering the costs required to maintain both a navigable river and the surrounding land to safe and environmentally sound standards.

While rowers are frequent users of the towpath, most boaters are not regular users of this space. In fact, a large portion of those who benefit from the area such as pedestrians, cyclists, and tourists do not contribute financially to its upkeep.

SURVEY WORK AND MORE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH

In 2021 a tree survey was commissioned. Trees were re-numbered along the entire length of the towpath from Clayhithe to its end point, which runs parallel to Water Street, Cambridge. There are no tree protection orders on any of the Conservancy’s trees. During this survey out of 900 trees examined, over 20 of were found to be dead. These were potentially dangerous to the public using the towpath. Conservators were advised that an appropriate management plan for all 900 trees was required. This would better mitigate risks to the safety of the public using the towpath.

A NEW FIVE YEAR STRUCTURED TREE MANAGEMENT PLAN

Following the storms in 2021 the Conservancy approached a number of professional arborists and tree surgeon companies and in early 2022 the Conservators agreed to a new five year ‘Tree Management Program’ (TMP). During this rolling programme all 900 trees would be reviewed over this five year time frame. Any trees that were potentially dangerous would be felled wherever and whenever they became apparent along the whole towpath’s length. The remainder would be tackled over the 5 year plan in sections. The work began at the Chesterton end of the towpath, adjacent to Water Street, progressing to Clayhithe.

WHO CAN USE THE TOWPATH

The towpath is a public right of way for pedestrians and the land it sits on is owned by the Conservators of The River Cam

In 2022 a Permissive Pathway Agreement (PPA) was developed between the Conservancy and Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) The agreement allows pedal cyclists to use the towpath and underpins the responsibility of the County Council to maintain the pathway, and the environment immediately surrounding it. The Conservancy has the right to close the towpath for emergencies, events, and planned works for temporary closures and for these pre planned tree works of a longer duration a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order is applied for. These are obtained from the County Council for which the Conservancy also pays a fee.

Even though the majority of users of the towpath make no financial contribution to the maintenance of the land the Conservancy listens to feedback and has adapted its approach to tree management. This is with a view to minimise impacts to the public, within tight financial and capacity constraints. The evolution of this process whilst taking account of towpath users’ concerns works to ensure the public safety, the economic viability of these works, the appropriate maintenance of the trees and the fostering of a healthy wider ecology.

ECOLOGY

Natural England’s best practice advice has been applied to the work carried out by the contractors. Though some complaints were made about the condition of the towpath pre tree cutting and the aesthetic of pollard trees there was a rationale behind the approach. It had to be carried out:

Within a tight budget
It had to support the local ecology via methods such as ‘dead hedging’ whereby cut branches were laid in stacks parallel to the towpath. This had a dual benefit of supporting hundreds of invertebrates and the wider eco system. It also mitigated against the risk of vehicles such as quad bikes, and stray animals including horses unlawfully accessing the towpath where they were sometimes causing alarm and distress to towpath users.
The above approach complied with Natural England guidelines.
It was also less time consuming and again more ecologically sound than removing cut branches from site to burn or chip at another location.

PUBLIC SUPPORT

The Conservators appreciate the public understanding for the the necessity of tree works and the Conservancy’s approach to the tree management along the towpath. To ensure a safe working environment and smooth progress of works we ask the public to be mindful of notices, signs and carrying out the work whilst wielding chain saws and using heavy machinery.

Inclement weather has also caused some delays. Heavy rain can make sections of the riverbank less stable and so reduce access requirements for heavy cutting machinery. Carrying out any work next to water also requires supplementary safety measures to be considered and implemented.