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Pollarding

Find out what pollarding is including why and how we pollard trees in Torbay.

Torbay is very lucky to have large numbers of pollarded trees. These trees offer a wide range of benefits. They look beautiful and add to the area's appeal. They also help the environment by giving animals places to live and find food. Moreover, they play a role in our efforts to combat climate change. 

It's important to note that pollarding is different from topping or lopping. Topping and lopping involve cutting off large upper branches to make a tree shorter. This is not a good practice because it can harm the tree. It often leads to large wounds that can let in decay. The new branches that grow are usually weak and can break off. Topping also makes the tree look unattractive and stunted. 

This policy explains why and how we pollard trees in Torbay.