Salisbury City Council Continue Expanding the City's Tree Canopy

Friday, 11 September 2026 14:00

By Niamh Cunningham

Salisbury City Council (SCC) demonstrate a commitment to maintaining and expanding the city’s tree canopy, with many replacement and additional trees planted each year in line with the Council’s tree policy.

Standing at around 20 metres tall, the mature grey poplar next to the car park at Five Rivers Leisure Centre is one of a pair of distinctive trees that have become a familiar feature of the local landscape.

A large cavity within the tree’s trunk has been monitored for a few years, however, the cavity has now increased in size and is being colonised by decay fungi.

This now presents a safety risk in an area regularly used by leisure centre visitors and children attending the neighbouring school.

Following assessment by SCC’s arboriculture consultant, it has been recommended that the tree is reduced to a standing monolith, with the work scheduled to take place later this month.

This approach will allow as much of the existing tree as possible to be retained, while reducing the associated safety risk. Standing deadwood plays an important role in supporting biodiversity, allowing the tree to continue making a positive contribution to the local environment even after its reduction.

As part of this work, a replacement tree will be planted in a suitable location in the winter.

Poplars are fast-growing trees that can thrive in a range of habitats, and it is hoped that the replacement will establish successfully and become another valued feature of the local landscape for future generations.

The approach reflects SCC’s commitment to balancing public safety with the protection of trees and the important role they play in supporting biodiversity, enhancing the local environment and contributing to the city’s future tree canopy.