Ash Tree Removal & Conifer Reduction – High Lane, Stockport

We were recently asked to carry out the removal of a large Ash tree in the rear garden of a property in High Lane, Stockport, alongside a conifer reduction in the front garden.

The Ash tree had previously been worked on by another tree company, but poor practices had left the tree in bad shape — and the client understandably had concerns about how the work would be handled this time around.

Ash tree with poor form and heavy regrowth from previous pollarding, awaiting removal. — This Ash tree in High Lane had been poorly pollarded in the past, resulting in weak structure and an unbalanced canopy.

Background and Client Concerns

The Ash had been heavily pruned in the past, essentially pollarded, which had ruined its natural shape and left it looking unbalanced. It was also showing early signs of Ash Dieback, with visible dieback in the crown and reduced vigour in the regrowth.

The client explained that during the previous work, branches and logs had been dropped directly onto the lawn, causing significant mess and unnecessary damage. They were concerned we might do the same — but we assured them from the outset that we would take a more careful, professional approach.

Scope of Works

The agreed brief was:

Remove the Ash tree in the rear garden, leaving a waist-high stem to be reused as a base for a tabletop
Cut and leave four large timber rings for the client to use as garden stools
Protect the lawn during dismantling and avoid any damage to the surrounding garden
Reduce and reshape a small conifer in the front garden, improving its appearance while maintaining privacy

Carrying Out the Work

Our team accessed the Ash tree through the rear garden and set up a safe rigging system to dismantle the tree in a controlled way. Given the client’s past experience, careful lowering was a priority.

Tree surgeon climbing and sectionally dismantling an Ash tree using rope and harness. — Our climber safely dismantling the Ash tree in sections — all timber was carefully lowered to protect the lawn below.

Using ropes and pulleys, we rigged down all limbs and timber, avoiding any free-falling wood
The crown was dismantled in stages, and all arisings were safely lowered into a designated drop zone
The waist-high stem was cut level for the future installation of a garden table
Four clean-cut timber rings were left neatly stem placed around the stem for use as stools

We then moved to the front garden to tackle the conifer. This was reduced by approximately one-third, carefully faced up and reshaped on top to maintain symmetry and a smart finish.

All waste was removed from site and the garden was left clean, tidy, and undisturbed — exactly as promised.

Outcome

The client was delighted with both the outcome and the care we took throughout the job. The rear lawn was completely untouched, and the timber left behind will now form part of a seating and dining area in the garden.

Low Ash tree stem left as table base with four timber rings as stools on a tidy garden lawn. — Ash tree removed and repurposed — stem left as a garden table base with four stools, and the lawn left perfectly tidy.

✅ Ash tree safely dismantled and reused
✅ Lawn and garden fully protected
✅ Conifer neatly reduced and reshaped
✅ Another happy customer — and a positive contrast to their previous experience with another contractor

Tree Removals with Care and Attention

At Woodfelder Tree Care, we know that quality tree work means more than just getting the job done — it means doing it properly, safely, and leaving no mess behind.

We specialise in:

Rigged dismantling in sensitive gardens
Reuse of timber for furniture or firewood
Hedge and conifer reductions
Full site tidy-up and customer-first service

If you’ve had a bad experience with another tree surgeon — or just want the job done right the first time — give us a call. We’re always happy to visit, advise, and provide a free quote.