Tree planting scheme to offset loss from hospital expansion

Saturday 18 February 2023

25 trees were planted on Fort Road yesterday to mitigate the loss of 19 trees removed from the hospital site to allow for the construction of the new Critical Care Unit.

17 trees were chopped down outside the Ozanne Ward and Day Patient Unit, while another two trees were removed from an internal hospital courtyard.

Incidentally, emergency tree surgery works at Fort Road were announced by Traffic & Highway Services on Friday after around 12 trees bordering the road between Morley Chapel and Croutes Havilland were inspected and recommended for removal.

The works will take place from 08:00 until late afternoon on Monday 20 February.

Jan Coleman, Director of Hospital Modernisation said “it’s always regrettable when trees must be removed to facilitate a building programme”, but was necessary to improve the hospital. 

She added that staff were able to participate in the replanting scheme.

It was a bit grey & drizzly this morning but was perfect for tree planting.

Staff from Rihoy & Son and SoG met with Andy McCutcheon of Guernsey Trees for Life to plant 25 trees on Fort Road field to replace 19 trees removed from the PEH to facilitate the new CCU extension. pic.twitter.com/5pSG9AzMZo

— States of Guernsey (@Govgg) February 17, 2023

Dan Taylor, Projects Director for hospital contractor Rihoy & Son, said a responsible builder always looks for viable options to replace natural assets.

Andy McCutcheon, Principal Environment Services Manager, added: “When considering the impact of construction works, we like to liaise with all parties to ensure that trees are not removed unnecessarily and that all viable alternatives are considered.

“In the case of the works taking place at the PEH the only viable alternative was to replant and replace the trees in a different location.

“This is the perfect time to plant these new specimens on the Fort Road field for people enjoy for years to come.”