Will these trees grow back?

[Glitterkitten24]

If you know anything about trees, can you lend me your knowledge?

The gorgeous big trees lining my street have been seriously chopped by the council this week. This is what they’ve been left like!

Will the foliage and branches grow back again? As the trunk etc is still intact I assume it will?

Never thought I’d be upset by a tree! 😢

These look like they have been pollarded, they should grow back, they usually do unless there were underlying issues.

Yeah they will. It’s a technique with a special name that’s used to restrict the growth of the tree.

Yes they will. If you look closely you can see they have been cut like this before.

Apparently (according to George Monbiot anyway!) a lot of tree species evolved to survive being eaten as an elephant's dinner. So you could see the council as a modern-day elephant 😂

Yes of course it’s just been pollarded.

They've been pollarded. They'll get leaves again in the spring. Pollarded trees look so creepy in the winter, I always think they look a bit like the whomping willow.

Thank you all, I am so pleased to hear that the consensus is they will grow back! In truth they were huge so a good trim is probably overdue, but I was alarmed to see so much removed.

You have cheered me up after my moment of panic! 💐

My neighbour has suggested that they might have been topped, and that moisture and decay might set in- any thoughts on topped versus pollarded?

Pollarded and it looks as if it's been quite skilfully done. Must be limes.

@Bideshi I think they are sycamores?

The next two trees on the street are huge big Horse Chestnuts, are they likely to do that to those too?

They might, but horse chestnuts aren't the best subjects for pollarding.

No they have been pollarded not topped. Your neighbour is wrong.

Thanks @Bideshi, I appreciate your thoughts!

Thanks @Thestagshead I’m very pleased to hear that!

I live on a golf course and few years back a number of trees were cut back like that. I was a bit worried but they have grown back wonderfully and look better than they did before.

Trees are fine. But the people opposite's house is worth less than their car.