Moray Council is preparing to begin the next phase of tree maintenance work across several locations this August, following a recent tree condition survey and earlier works in Forres and Elgin.

The council's Open Spaces team has scheduled maintenance and removal work in Cuthill Park and St Rufus Park in Keith, Linzee Gordon Park in Buckie, and woodland areas around Sanquhar Pond and St Leonard's Road in Forres.

At Cuthill Park, eight trees will have deadwood removed, and one tree requires limb removal. Six trees will be felled due to issues such as sparse crowns, broken stems, significant decay or lean.

In St Rufus Park, nine trees need deadwood removed, one tree will be pruned to prevent obstruction to street lighting and three trees will be felled due to decay.


Linzee Gordon Park will see one tree pruned to clear phone wires. An additional 13 trees require pruning, 21 need deadwood or limb removal and 10 trees are scheduled for felling due to advanced decay.

At Sanquhar Pond, 21 dead or poor-condition trees will be removed, ivy will be cleared from the base of 10 trees and a further six will have limbs or deadwood taken down.

Finally, on St Leonard's Road, work includes the removal of deadwood or limbs from six trees, ivy clearance from nine trees and the felling of 18 dead trees.

Ahead of the works, the Open Spaces team will engage with community volunteers at Sanquhar Pond and consult with nearby residents on St Leonard’s Road. Signage will also be displayed at all affected sites before work commences.

All necessary permissions for the work, including consent from the Planning Authority for operations in conservation areas, have been secured and Scottish Forestry has been consulted.

A replacement tree planting programme is planned for the upcoming planting season, which runs from November to February, ensuring the long-term sustainability and biodiversity of Moray's public green spaces.