Planned tree maintenance works across Moray

Moray Council’s Open Spaces team are planning works at Keith’s Cuthill Park and St Rufus Park; Linzee Gordon Park in Buckie; and within woodland areas at Sanquhar Pond and St Leonard’s Road in Forres. Work is expected to begin in August 2025.

Eight trees at Cuthill Park need deadwood removed with one tree needing the removal of a limb. Six trees are to be felled for various reasons, including a sparse crown, significant lean, a broken stem or significant decay.

Nine trees at St Rufus Park need to be removed of deadwood with one tree needing pruned as it’s causing an obstruction to street lighting. Three trees are to be felled due to decay in this park.

At Linzee Gordon Park in Buckie one tree needs to be pruned to clear phone wires. Another 13 trees need pruning and 21 need the removal of deadwood or limbs, while 10 trees are to be felled due to significant decay.

Sanquhar Pond in Forres will see 21 trees in poor condition or dead being felled and 10 having ivy removed at the base, while six will have deadwood and/or limbs removed.

St Leonard’s Road in Forres rounds off the work with six trees having deadwood or limbs removed and a further nine with ivy removal and 18 dead trees felled.

Prior to finalising the programme, the council’s Open Spaces team will engage with volunteers who help look after the environment at Sanquhar Pond, and residents who live nearby to where the tree works are needed on St Leonards Road. 

Information signs will be displayed at sites before work starts. The council has received advice from Scottish Forestry and consent from the Planning Authority for works in the conservation area. 

Following the tree works a replacement tree planting programme is planned to take place in the forthcoming planting season, which runs from November to February.

Chair of Moray Council’s Economic Development and Infrastructure Services Committee, Cllr Marc Macrae, said: “This essential tree maintenance programme not only helps to preserve the health of the trees in our community spaces but is also with the safety of park and woodland area users in mind.

“We ask members of the public to respect any cordons put in place while these works are carried out and apologise for any inconvenience caused as our teams care for our beautiful landscapes.”