Tree Work to Start at Castle Pool

The work will ensure that the area is made safe before the silt removal works are undertaken on the Pool.

Last year all of the trees on this embankment were surveyed for the Herefordshire Council Parks, Countryside & Leisure Development Service by Jerry Ross, an Arboricultural Association registered consultant, to assess their condition before the silt removal takes place. 

Several trees have been identified that will need to be felled due to decay. 

A small number of other trees will also be removed including poorer specimens and trees that may become unstable once the silt in the pool is removed. 

A minimum number of trees will also be removed to enable the works on the pool.

The tree surgery, which will be complicated due to the nature of the site, will be carried out by local tree surgeon, Andrew Fathers and most of the cut material will need to be removed via the Castle Green.

In recent years there has been a call to clean the Castle Pool as it often smells unpleasant in summer months due to low water levels and the amounts of leaf litter and duck food falling into it annually.

The Castle Pool has not been cleaned out in living memory, though it is believed that some work was undertaken in the 1840’s.

Herefordshire Council has had to work within the constraints of the site’s status as part of an ancient monument and has been working closely with English Heritage throughout the planning process. 

Preliminary works on the Castle Pool will be carried out later this month with undisturbed core samples of the silt being taken for analysis by English Heritage.

This will enable them to look at the pollen distribution of the last 160 years and they may be able to find out other archaeological information

Geof Tarring, Assistant Parks Manager for Herefordshire Council said: “Some water will remain in the Pool during the cleaning work, but to minimise distress to wildlife the fish will be taken to storage tanks before the work commences.

“It is expected that birds that can fly will probably leave of their own accord, but those that cannot and other creatures such as the terrapins will be removed and rehomed if possible.

“Provided English Heritage are satisfied with the core samples we will be able to commission the work for February, in advance of the breeding season.

“If there were further delays then the work would be not be carried out until the autumn to avoid disturbance to local wildlife.”