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Public Document Pack
High Peak Borough Council
THE EXECUTIVE - INDIVIDUAL EXECUTIVE DECISIONS
Date: Wednesday, 24 April 2019
23 April 2019
PART 1
1. Adoption of Site Specific Tree Management Guidance for The Slopes, Buxton
(Pages 3 - 18)
SIMON BAKER
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
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Agenda Item 1
HIGH PEAK BOROUGH COUNCIL
Report to the Executive Councillor for Finance & Operational Services
23 April 2019
TITLE: Adoption of Site Specific Tree Management
Guidance for The Slopes, Buxton .
PORTFOLIO: Councillor Emily Thrane – Executive
Councillor for Operational Services
OFFICER: Monica Gillespie – Arboricultural Officer
WARDS: Central Ward
Appendices Attached –
Appendix 1 - Site Specific Tree Management Guidance 1 – The Slopes, Buxton
1. Reason for the Report:
1.1 To seek approval to adopt a Site Specific Tree Management Guidance for The
Slopes, Buxton to reflect the heritage of the site and allow for the original
intention of the design to be re-established.
2. Recommendation
2.1 That the attached ‘Site Specific Tree Management Guidance 1 – The Slopes
Buxton’ is adopted and appended to High Peak Borough Council’s Tree
Strategy.
3. Executive Summary
3.1 The Slopes is a public open space and is Grade II Registered Historic Park
and Garden located between the Town Hall and The Crescent in Buxton. The
Slopes open space includes a war memorial and a weather station which was
installed in 1867 making it the second oldest weather station in the UK.
Page 3
3.2 The site is planted with around 100 trees. In 1818, the Slopes were laid out by
Jeffry Wyatville with later additions by Joseph Paxton. The original layout had
open views to the Crescent; trees were added through the 19th and 20th
centuries.
3.3 In adopting this Site Specific Tree Management Guidance as provided at
Appendix 1, for the Slopes, we are seeking to re-establish the views towards
iconic Buxton Buildings such as the Crescent. It has been unofficial policy for
some time to not undertake any replacement planting within the central area of
the slopes so that as trees are removed, due to their condition or safety
issues, the original views are re-established. The Guidance we are proposing
for this specific site formalises this approach.
4. How this report links to Corporate Priorities
4.1 Developing a sustainable Site Specific Tree Management Guidance for the
Slopes is in line with corporate policy to protect and improve the environment
and provide quality parks and open space.
5. Options and Analysis
5.1 There are two options available:
1. To adopt the proposed Site Specific Tree Management Guidance
ensuring the heritage of the site including views of many Buxton
buildings is protected. (Recommended)
2. To not adopt the proposed Site Specific Tree Management Guidance
replying on unofficial policy as has been the case for many years. (Not
recommended)
6. Implications
6.1 Community Safety – (Crime and Disorder Act 1998)
The proposed management approach will assist in maintaining open views
across the site, which will encourage usage of the site and passive
supervision, thus helping to create safe environments.
6.2 Workforce
Any tree works required will be undertaken by the council’s approved
contractors with tree planting and young tree management undertaken by
AES, following the transfer of grounds maintenance services on the 1st April
2019.
6.3 Equality and Diversity/Equality Impact Assessment
Ensuring the park is well managed and that there are good open views will
help to maintain the accessibility of the park.
6.4 Financial Considerations
The cost of the works and the replacement planting will be met out of existing
tree works budgets.
Page 4
6.5 Legal
None
6.6 Sustainability
The proposed management guidance will ensure a replacement tree is
planted for every mature tree removed.
6.7 Internal and External Consultation
Regeneration were consulted and commented on the plan. If approved, the
plan will become public document and will be shared with local interest groups
such as The Buxton Town Team and Buxton Civic Association. In addition
Buxton ward councillors have been consulted with and raised no objections.
6.8 Risk Assessment
HPBC have a duty to manage risk in relation to trees on land that it manages
and owns. This approach is set out in Good Practice Guide No 4 – Tree Risk
Management. The trees on the Slopes are managed in accordance with this
guidance, if any of the trees become an unacceptable risk, they will be
removed and replaced in accordance with the proposed management
guidance for this site.
Dai Larner
Executive Director (Place)
Web links & Location Contact details
background papers
https://www.highpeak.gov Monica Gillespie
.uk/media/704/Tree- Arboricultural Officer
strategy/pdf/Tree_Strateg Mgillespie@highpeak.gov.uk
y_Introduction_and_Tree Ext. 4507
_Policy_Rev_2016.pdf?m
=1479315614960
7. Background
7.1 The Slopes is a public open space and is Grade II Registered Historic Park
and Garden located between the Town Hall and The Crescent in Buxton. The
Slopes open space includes a war memorial and a weather station which was
installed in 1867 making it the second oldest weather station in the UK.
7.2 The site is laid out with curved terraced paths which are linked by other paths
which curve in the opposite direction, forming a pattern of interlocking ellipses.
The pattern conforms broadly with that shown on the 1848 Tithe map and the
original layout. The site is planted with around 100 trees. In 1818, the Slopes
Page 5
were laid out by Jeffry Wyatville with later additions by Joseph Paxton. The
original layout had open views to the Crescent but trees were added through
the 19th and 20th centuries.
7.3 Over the years there have been various waves of tree planting on the Slopes
which have gradually closed in the views towards the Crescent moving further
from the original design. However the trees have become an important
heritage element in their own right.
7.4 The proposal will allow for the retention and replacement of trees, recognising
the important contribution they make to the environment whilst respecting the
heritage elements of the Slopes including the original landscape intentions.
7.5 In 1991-94 proactive tree management removed around 50 dead and
diseased trees thus reducing the density of trees on The Slopes. Since then
trees have only been removed as required and replacement trees planted
outside the main views.
7.6 The option to undertake a further phase of significant tree removal has been
dismissed as this will lead to the loss of otherwise healthy trees and be
contrary to the Councils current Tree Strategy.
7.7 In adopting this Site Specific Tree Management Guidance, provided at
Appendix 1, for the Slopes, we are seeking to re-establish the views towards
iconic Buxton Buildings such as the Crescent. It has been unofficial policy for
some time to not undertake any replacement planting within the central area of
the Slopes so that as trees are removed, due to their condition or as a result of
safety concerns, the original views are re-established. The Guidance we are
proposing for this site therefore aims to formalise this approach.
Page 6
Tree
Strategy
Site Specific Tree
Management
Guidance 1
The Slopes Buxton
February 2019
Page 7
Site Specific Tree Management Guidance 1 – The Slopes Buxton
1. Background and History
1.1 The Slopes is a public open space and is Grade II Registered Historic Park and
Garden. It is located between the Town Hall and The Crescent. The land rises
steeply up from the forecourt of the Crescent to the south. The site is laid out
with curved terraced paths which are linked by other paths which curve in the
opposite direction, forming a pattern of interlocking ellipses. The pattern
conforms broadly with that shown on the 1848 Tithe map and the original
layout. The site has around 100 mature trees. The Slopes also has a war
memorial and a weather station 1867 and is the second oldest weather station
in the UK.
1.2 It is known that this area was originally a bare hillside called St Ann's Cliff. But
there is evidence that even early in its evolution as a public space the upper
slopes to the south were planted with trees particularly the south east.
1.3 The development of tree cover on the slopes is illustrated via Ordnance Survey
(OS)- map extracts and images from 1850 onwards in Figures 1-9 appended to
this report.
1.4 1818 - The Slopes were laid out by Jeffry Wyatville for the sixth Duke of
Devonshire to form the setting for the Crescent and attached buildings relating
to the spa. Wyatville’s design established the pattern of interlocking ellipse but
was without trees and relied on stone retaining walls, flights of steps and huge
stone urns as decoration and which all survive. The walls, steps and urns are
all separately listed (Grade II*). The urns themselves are of particularly
important provenance, being made of oolitic limestone (Bath Stone), were
designed by the prominent advocate of Palladian architecture, Richard Boyle
(Lord Burlington), for the Cavendish family’s East Riding of Yorkshire estate at
Londesborough in 1746. they were brought to Buxton by Wyatville in 1818
following the sixth Duke’s decision to demolish Londesborough.
1.5 1835 - The Butterly Directory described the area as: 'Over St Ann's Cliffs;
opposite the Crescent, a fine rising lawn has been laid out with very great taste,
where the company promenade'.
1.6 1850’s - subsequent alterations were carried out by Joseph Paxton. The OS
maps for this period show trees particularly to the east and west of the site. To
be marked on the plan they must have been quite established suggesting that
these may have been part of the earlier original layout of the site.
1.7 1890’s more trees were added to the slopes this can been seen in photos
showing young trees and by reviewing the OS maps
1.8 In the C19 the seventh Duke of Devonshire sold the site on a chief rent to the
Buxton Local Board (which subsequently became the Buxton Corporation).
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Site Specific Tree Management Guidance 1 – The Slopes Buxton
1.9 A photo from circa 1927 shows mature to the south east trees and some other
younger trees. The Avenue and the upper part of the slopes to the south and
east has the more mature trees.
1.10 A comprehensive Conservation and Landscape Management Plan of the
Slopes was undertaken in 1991-4 when the Council successfully bid to the
European Commission for funding matched with its own funds and those of
English Heritage to create a project budget of approximately £400,000. At this
time, all of the hard elements of the Slopes (paths, path edgings, retaining walls
and urns) were repaired, some 50 dying or diseased trees were removed and a
further 12 trees planted. Turners Memorial was reinstated and the area at the
foot of the Slopes was landscaped as part of the same project. One of the tree
management principles adopted with this project was to open up views of the
Crescent from the War Memorial southwards.
1.10 A chronological sequence of maps and photos is appended to this document
through which the above developments can be traced.
2. The trees
2.1 There are now up to 100 mature trees on site. There are indications that those
to the south and east are more mature including some large elms trees. There
is an even aged avenue of sycamores which appears to be consistent with the
line of the older planting on site. The trees added circa 1900 area predominant
to the north and central area of the site. There is also some more recent tree
planting replacing trees that have been felled.
2.2 Most, although not all, the trees are have been included in the council’s survey
Ezy Treev Management System.
2.3 The majority of trees are lime or sycamore with the occasional elm and ash.
There were several horse chestnuts but these have all succumbed to disease
in the last 10 years.
2.4 Over the last 10 years 10 trees have been removed: 5 horse chestnut and 5
sycamore. Each tree that has been removed has been replaced on at least a
1:1 basis with a standard tree usually of either a species of lime or maple.
2.5 The ‘unofficial’ replacement planting policy has been to replace trees to the
east or west of the site to allow the natural development of a more open vista
towards the Crescent and other iconic Buxton buildings, building on the
principle introduced with the 1991-94 plan, and bringing the distribution of trees
closer to the original layout. See figure 10
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Site Specific Tree Management Guidance 1 – The Slopes Buxton
3. Formalising future management
3.1 The renovation of the Crescent is now nearing completion and the views
towards this iconic building are limited from the upper parts of the slopes. The
trees on the Slopes are mature and where they are healthy and there is no
other justification for the removal of the trees they should be retained.
Decisions with regards to the retention of trees or otherwise will be made in line
with the Council’s Tree Policy. It would not be appropriate to undertaken any
type of wholesale felling with the sole reason of opening up the views. The
trees are an asset and have their own heritage value as well as having an
environmental importance; all of which needs to be recognised that needs to be
recognised.
3.2 A review of the photos and OS maps suggest that the earlier alterations and
extensions to the original layout may have included trees but retained and open
vista in the central triangle of the site. Also when the trees were young the view
was naturally more open see figures 6-8.
3.3 The development of Buxton as Spa town and the influence of various architects
and landscapers on the town is an important part of the town’s heritage and
character. Therefore it is important to recognised and be sympathetic to the
original landscape vision but we do not have details of what longer term
intentions of the instigators of the layout were. But it would seem logical, given
the historical development of the site, that the intention was to have trees on
the upper slopes to the south east and also to the south west but the central
area would be more open.
3.4 There are other important heritage features on the Slopes including the weather
recording site. This is the second longest running weather recording station in
the UK and established in 1866 . The trees do have some impact on the site
weather station and a recent report has identified several trees causing issues.
The Slopes is also home to the town’s fine War Memorial by L.f Roslyn.
3.5 Both these features fall within the central triangle of the site and would also
benefit from a policy of allowing this area to be gradually opened up when the
current trees need to be removed
3.6 The trees themselves are heritage features most are at least 120 years old with
several that are potentially as much as 200 years old. They also have a value
as a capital asset and the provide ecological benefits
3.7 The attached plan Figure 9 shows the no planting zone. The policy being that if
trees have to be removed for other reasons they will not be replaced in this
area to allow the natural and progressive opening up of views.
3.8. Replacement tree planting will be undertaken outside this area on a 1:1 basis
using species similar stature and characteristics to those already established
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Page 10Site Specific Tree Management Guidance 1 – The Slopes Buxton
on the slopes; lime (Tilia spp) and maple or sycamore (Acer spp) predominate
with some horse chestnut , elm and ash –due to disease these are less suitable
for selection as replacement species at the current time.
4. Summary
4. Having given consideration to the various factors the tree felling and replacement
policy for the slopes will be as follows
Any tree felling will be considered in line with the Council Tree Policy and
Good Practice Guidance.
Any trees felled within the central triangle as illustrated in Figure 10 will not
be replaced within that area unless there is any overriding reason to do so
and its long term impact on the open vista and heritage features has been
given due consideration.
All future replacement planting will be predominantly to the south east and to
a lesser extent to the south west of the site outside of this area. Species
selection will in keeping with the historic planting on the which is largely lime,
sycamore, horse chestnut, ash, elm and maple
Report dated 4/2/2019 Following revisions as a result of various consultations
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Page 11Site Specific Tree Management Guidance 1 – The Slopes Buxton
Figure 1: OS Map Circa 1850
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Page 12Site Specific Tree Management Guidance 1 – The Slopes Buxton
Figure 2: OS Map 1897
Figure 3:
OS MAP 1919
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Page 13Site Specific Tree Management Guidance 1 – The Slopes Buxton
Figure 4: Date unknown
Figure 5: Date unknown
Figure 6: circa 1900
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Page 14Site Specific Tree Management Guidance 1 – The Slopes Buxton
Figure 7: 1927
Figure 8: 1932
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Page 15Site Specific Tree Management Guidance 1 – The Slopes Buxton
Figure 9: 2011
Figure 10: No planting Zone
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Page 16Site Specific Tree Management Guidance 1 – The Slopes Buxton
No tree
planting
Area
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