Stroud Green avenue of 56 Lombardy poplar trees felled

An avenue of iconic trees in Newbury has been removed.

The 56 large mature Lombardy poplars on Stroud Green have become natural landmarks for the town since they were first planted in the 1960s.

But the majority of them have now been removed after health and safety concerns.

In recent years several of the trees have come down in high winds and it was decided that the poplars had reached the end of their typical 50- to 60-year lifespan.

West Berkshire Council decided it would fell all 56 of them earlier this year and launched a public survey to find out what should be done to replace them.

It has been decided that they will be replaced by a new set of Lombardy poplars.

The council said it aimed to begin planting the new trees between November 2025 and February 2026.

The work to fell all of the 56 current trees started at the beginning of November and is being undertaken by the same company that planted the trees back at the end of the 1960s.

The council’s survey received 1,135 responses from Newbury residents and visitors to the town with several suggestions made for both native and non-native trees to become the poplars’ replacement.

The most popular choice at 38 per cent was the Lombardy poplar again, despite its relatively shorty lifespan and non-native status.

The council currently considers all the existing poplar trees to be dangerous and presenting a risk to the public.