Jack Cotterill Tree Services - Case Study: St Peter’s Church, Droitwich Spa.
Jack Cotterill Tree Services has been trusted on multiple occasions to carry out tree work at St Peter’s Church in Droitwich Spa, a well-known and well-loved landmark in the town. This year we were called to quote for selected trees on site in the peaceful surrounding churchyard.
After an initial site visit and consultation, several trees were identified as in need of expert tree care to ensure that they posed no danger to visitors to the churchyard or the gravestones underneath.
Our expert teams respectfully carried out the removal of deadwood and hazardous limbs from various trees in the churchyard, some of which were very large and old specimens.
Two large pine trees were identified to be in a declining state and the church decided to retain the standing stems as monoliths. Monoliths are decaying trees that have been made safe by removing all branches, leaving behind just the trunk at a suitable height. It is a method used so that a decaying tree can be retained for habitat while posing less risk to its surroundings.
Churchyards are home to a variety of wildlife that can benefit from the presence of monoliths, including birds, bats and and insects. Monoliths are beneficial for the following reasons:
They can provide a nesting site or perch for a number of birds.
The decaying wood from the monolith can release nutrients into the soil.
Insects and fungi that live within the monolith provide a food source for birds and other small animals.
Woodpeckers are often seen around monoliths as they feast upon the insects and grubs that enjoy the decaying wooden structure.
While working upon the pine trees, it was also noticed that one tree had an active hornet’s nest and so the work was deemed unsafe to carry out on the day. Jack Cotterill Tree Services works closely with Zak at ZJ Pest Control, who was called to safely remove the nest so that we could carry out the rest of the work without long delays.
We are proud to be trusted with the care of the trees at St Peter’s Church and are happy that the monoliths will continue to benefit wildlife in the area for years to come.
