As part of the Flood Alleviation Schemes, the council's Flood Risk Management maintain and develop sections of the woodland areas alongside the river Aire from Thwaite’s Watermill to Apperley Bridge.
As part of these works, they work alongside other teams both within the council including Parks & Countryside, Environment Agency and Canal & River Trust.
An part of an ecology health study of the trees, a health scores is calculated by looking at the size of the tree, the likelihood of the tree falling, the potential risk to the public and assets, the location of the tree and the overall impact of causing a flood risk. From this rating system the trees are scored from 1-5, with trees scored 1 being the most dangerous.
The river has been split into sections and have created packages of work for each section highlighting the dangerous trees. This section located from Thwaites Mill to Goodman Street LS10 is due to have work carried out between the 21/2/22 and 28/2/22.
Looking at the health scores, it has sadly been decided to remove one tree completely and to conduct maintenance works four others. Due to the size of the tree being removed, nine more mature trees will be planted in this segment of the river.