A TREE which marked the gateway to Alvechurch village had to be felled this week after a large bough crashed into a nursery playing area.
Contractors from Reeves Trees chopped down the massive copper beech tree on Swan Street after council officers deemed it a danger to the public.
A huge branch – believed to have weighed up to four tons – fell into the play area at Sandhills Day Nursery. Thankfully it was on Sunday night when there were no children or staff around.
The road was closed on Tuesday and Wednesday while the tree, subject to a preservation order, was felled following an inspection by two Bromsgrove District Council officers.
A statement from the nursery confirmed it had sought advice from the council which sadly reported the tree was no longer healthy or safe and needed to be cut down.
Alvechurch resident James Iles, whose three-year-old daughter attends the nursery, said: “As a villager it’s sad to see such a beautiful old tree being felled but, speaking especially as a parent of a child at the nursery, I’m so relieved it fell when it did and that no-one was hurt or even killed by the bough coming down.
“The outcome could have been so much worse.
“The nursery acted quickly and professionally in getting the tree assessed and felled and keeping the public informed – we are all grateful for this.”
