How to prune this cherry tree - please help

[iknowimcoming]

This tree has been in for 4 years maybe, it's pretty healthy (although looks dreadful) and has had fruit which the birds have enjoyed! Clearly it needs pruning but someone advise best way please?

Better photo maybe

Personally I wouldn't yet. Cherry trees go through a teenage gangly phase, but personally I think they look best when mature if they haven't been pruned too much.

Why do you say “Clearly it needs pruning”?

www.rhs.org.uk/fruit/cherries/grow-your-own

Now is a good time to prune. If you cut some of the long floppy branches to half their length, they will grow two new smaller branches next year.

I don't think the photos do it justice - it only has leaves on the ends of the branches and is totally bare in the centre, is that normal then?

I think it’s normal for all trees, isn’t it? (Look at the trees in the background). Leaves are for photosynthesis, no point in growing a leaf where it won’t get sun. So, framework of branches, shell of leaves on the outside. So that by itself isn’t a reason to prune. Reasons to prune are keeping tree to manageable size, promoting new growth for fruiting, avoiding near-vertical branches that are susceptible to tearing when weighed down by fruit, keeping an open framework less susceptible to disease