Shock as huge tree crashes down in York city centre
This is the scene in York city centre this afternoon after a huge tree came crashing to the ground.
The mature tree toppled over in Tower Gardens.
It came down after sitting in the floodwaters for several days. Fortunately no one has been hurt.
A witness told YorkMix:
We were walking along Tower Street and next to us the tree started to fall making a cracking noise. It hit the ground and we went to make sure nobody was hurt or stuck underneath it.
A family next to us shrieked – but their little boy found it absolutely amazing and couldn’t believe what he had seen.
Two years ago, John Cossham of Treemendous York told the My Castle Gateway consultation that Tower Gardens needed more active tree management.
He said then: “You can see which trees have been managed here – one where the bough has been chopped and there are lots of small branches growing out.
“Tree management is important as it increases the longevity of trees and it also increases safety as sometime branches do fall off. However, the trees near the edge have not been managed. There is a real value in mature trees.”
We have contacted City of York Council for a comment.