Towcester Town Council are responsible for many of the open areas and trees across Towcester, including areas such as parks and open spaces, roadsides and churchyards. These trees provide numerous benefits to the town. They provide huge aesthetic value both within the built-up areas and across the parks and open landscape. They also improve the environment by providing natural habitats for wildlife, enhancing biodiversity, absorbing noise pollution, acting as visual screening as well as enriching and improving the air that we breathe. Whilst the list of benefits of trees seems almost endless, it is important to acknowledge, particularly in a built-up urban landscape, that they can be detrimental if careful consideration isn't taken in terms of choice of species and planting locations. The semi-mature and mature trees in particular also need to be managed to ensure they do not pose an unacceptable risk to people, buildings and properties.

Maintenance and management

Our tree and landscaping teams work to assess the health of the trees and woodland areas across locations managed by Towcester Town Council. Following these assessments, recommendations are made for any remedial works that may be required as well as a plan for maintenance in the short/medium/long term. This may include, for example, any works required to individual trees such as pruning, severing of ivy, thinning works to improve the health of surrounding trees and works such as coppicing and pollarding. Further information on coppicing and pollarding can be found below. This pro-active approach will help to keep the natural environment in Towcester thriving and healthy, providing residents with a beautiful and safer landscape.

Coppicing

Coppicing is the process of cutting trees/plants back down to almost ground level. This process is done for a number of reasons. It helps support the health and prolong the life of a plant, helps to manage pests and diseases, as well as encouraging the growth of other species to create a more varied environment. Coppicing also keeps growth controlled for health and safety reasons in areas such as roadsides. Coppicing is carried out in the winter months when the plant is dormant and its nutrients have been stored in the root. When spring arrives, the new growth then emerges, often rapidly.

Pollarding

Pollarding is a method used to control a mature tree's size. Once it has reached the desired size, the tree is cut at the top and then future growth emerges from this point. Pollarding is done for a variety of reasons including:

• To prevent a tree from outgrowing its space
• To prevent wires and streetlights, etc. from being obstructed
• To reduce the amount of shade the tree casts

Guidance on when tree maintenance will/will not be carried out is as follows:

Appropriate intervention will take place when:

• There is a significant health and safety risk to the public such as dead trees located near roads/properties.
• If a tree is causing damage to your property. Please note that you may be asked to provide the Council with evidence from a structural engineer that supports this.
• Works are required to improve the health of the tree or surrounding trees.
• In some cases when trees are diseased, as deemed appropriate by our tree team.

Intervention will not usually take place when:

• Trees are interfering with TV/satellite reception unless other means of solving the issue have been exhausted.
• Tree sap/leaves/seeds/pollen are causing a nuisance.
• Trees are causing light loss/shade.
• Branches are overhanging.

Tree Protection Orders (TPOs) and Trees in Conservation Areas

Trees that have a tree protection order (TPO) attached to them and trees in conservation areas are subject to strict management criteria/restrictions. Further information regarding TPOs and trees in conservation areas can be found on the council website at

Tree Preservation Orders (TPO) | West Northamptonshire Council (westnorthants.gov.uk)

Trees in a Conservation Area (TCA) | West Northamptonshire Council (westnorthants.gov.uk)

Reporting an issue

Whilst the pro-active approach of our tree management plan should help to minimise any problems with trees, inevitably there may be concerns first noticed by members of the public. Any issues identified should be reported to Towcester Town Council.

The Open Areas Maps and Tree Management Plan are correct as of 1st January 2024 with a review date of January 2027.

The following maps reference a cycle of ongoing Open Areas Management. The dates are colour coded by year and are a suggested start year for works listed by the date (in brackets).

These maps are not intended to be used for TPO/Conservation Area identification. Any specific trees on the maps are marked for landmark purposes only. For accurate TPO information, please refer to West Northamptonshire Council's website.

Please note, the Tree Management Plans are listed in a separate document.

Map numbers and Titles Index

1. Docklewell Close
2. Springfields/Bramble Road (near Leisure Centre)
3. Hazel Crescent/Springfields (near Nicholas Hawksmoor Primary School)
4. Tennyson Close/Buckingham Way
5. Sandyhome Road along Silverstone Brook
6. Clare Crescent near Silverstone Brook
7. Recreation Ground adjacent to Waitrose Car Park
8. Recreation Ground adjacent to Towcester Infant School
9. Richmond Road
10. St Lawrence Church
11. Vernon Road near Chan's Fish and Chips
12. Hazel Crescent/Windsor Close/Balmoral Close
13. York Court
14. Caernarvon Close and York Court
15. Holly Hill and Kensington Close
16. Near Sandringham Close, Beech Close and Orchard Close
17. Cedar Close and Oak Close
18. Spinney Close and Woodcroft Close
19. Linnet Road and Dove Close
20. Wren Close and Nightingale Drive
21. Brackley Road near Keats Drive and Kipling Drive
22. Tennyson Close by Buckingham Way
23. Area between River Tove and Dismantled Railway near Aldi
24. Sluice area North-West of Police Station
25. Pond near Tove Wetland Pocket Park
26. Wetlands North of Belle Baulk
27. Wetlands area North-East of Waterhall
28. Belle Baulk North of Norton Crescent
29. Play area by Belle Baulk and Brook Lane
30. Cappenham Close
31. Belle Baulk and Cappenham Close
32. North Belle Baulk
33. Area North of Sluice/ Watling Street West
34. South of South Shires Car Park area
35. South Shires Car Park area/ Northampton Road
36. Green area South of Surtees Way
37. The Shires Play area
38. Moss Close area
39. Campbell Close/ Cooper Close area
40. Senna Drive area
41. Walker Drive/ Campbell Close area
42. Surtees Way/ Graham Hill Road
43. Clark Crescent area
44. Senna Drive
45. Senna Drive
46. Coulthard Close Play Area