Crowe Hall, Widcombe Hill, Widcombe, Bath

The proposed site of tree works is the garden setting of Crowe Hall, a Grade II mid- to late 18th century detached house situated within the Widcombe character area of the Bath City-Wide Conservation Area and World Heritage Site. The garden is a Grade II designated Park & Garden, originally set out as an informal parkland before later, more formalised landscaping alterations through the 19th and 20th centuries. The site is indicated to have maintained a defined tree belt along the northern boundary, screening the garden from Widcombe Hill, by the late 19th century at the latest, which has been sustained. The implementation of less formalised woodland-style planting is more indicative of Crowe Hall’s original parkland setting, whilst positively contributing to the green, semi-rural qualities of the Widcombe area characterised by a mix of dense tree planting and open fields.

Proposals would include the felling of approximately 12 trees, a number of which have been indicated to be infected with ash dieback. Around 4 of the trees to be felled are indicated to form part of the tree belt that makes up part of the roadside character of Widcombe Hill. We strongly encourage that any tree felling works should be accompanied by a proportional consideration of appropriate replanting where necessary as part of a rolling programme of future maintenance to ensure that this significant area of tree coverage is sustained and enhanced as part of Bath’s landscape setting, as well as reinforcing the existing ecological value of this area.