Rotting, strangled robinia trees felled in Temple Bar

Dublin City Council has said two mature robinia trees in Temple Bar were felled on Friday for “safety reasons”.

Tree-lovers took to social media to decry the chopping down of the tall deciduous trees on Friday morning on Essex Street West, near the junction with Cow’s Lane.

However, the council said it was forced to take action because the trees were suffering rot and strangulation and were in danger of falling.

The council’s parks and landscapes services division recently undertook an inspection of the trees and determined there was no possibility of saving them.

‘Strangling effect’

One tree had “a severe lean, advanced rot and was being undercut by the strangling effect of the tree grilles”, the council said.

Tree grilles are metal coverings installed at the base of the tree to provide irrigation and protection of roots in paved or concreted areas.

“The second tree had substantially outgrown its tree grille to such an extent that it was completely strangled and compromised around its base,” the council said.

“The two trees in question have been removed by Dublin City Council for safety reasons... Both trees were at danger of falling and there was no way that they could be rescued or saved.”

The council said it would replace the trees in the coming weeks with two new ones and would remove the tree grilles so that the same issue would not arise in the future.