Stroud Green residents say saplings have taken over after poplars were chopped down

Hundreds of young trees have sprung up through pavements and drains near a Newbury park, after a row of mature poplars was felled.

West Berkshire Council axed the 56 large mature Lombardy poplars on Stroud Green last November.

They had become natural landmarks for the town since they were first planted in the 1960s.

Now, residents living near Racecourse Road have expressed growing frustration after dozens of saplings began appearing across the green, some already reaching more than 10ft tall.

What began as a few shoots has rapidly turned into a thicket, with new growth pushing up through footpaths and drainage covers.

And many believe the problem stems from the recent removal of the park’s long-standing trees.

Local residents say the consequences of that work are now becoming clear.

“The saplings are taking over the green,” said one resident.

“Every day more of them appear – and they’re getting higher and higher.

“They cut the trees down, but didn’t kill the roots. How much is it going to cost to sort out this mess?

“We’ll be calling Stroud Green ‘Stroud Woods’ soon at this rate.”

The result, say locals, is a park now littered with dense, uncontrolled growth, raising concerns over safety, accessibility and long-term damage to infrastructure.

In recent years several of the trees had 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 and launched a public survey to find out what should replace them.

The council’s countryside team told Newburytoday: “We are aware of small saplings and shoots appearing through pavements and drains at Stroud Green, following the felling of the Italian poplars last year.

“The poplars were removed due to safety concerns, as older trees of this species are prone to decay and becoming unstable.

“It is natural for the remaining root systems to send up new shoots, often called ‘suckers’, as part of the regeneration process.

“This has been more noticeable this year due to the hot, dry summer, which has kept surrounding grass short and made the vigorous sucker growth more visible.

“The suckers are also often growing in the areas we usually leave unmown for nature purposes.

“While these shoots may appear unsightly or concerning, they do not pose a safety risk and are being actively managed.

“Our contractors have been asked to carry out a tidy-up of the area and to check local drains as soon as possible.

“Regular cutting will mean the shoots will eventually die back, and so we will continue to maintain the area throughout the year.”

Nigel Foot (Lib Dem, Newbury Clay Hill), West Berkshire’s executive member for the countryside, said he was investigating the issue further.

“Once we get to the autumn/early winter period, we will be planting the replacement Italian poplars that residents voted for in the consultation we held to replace the old, diseased trees,” he said.