13/06/2026
ATTENTION: Please stop “saving” trees by cutting the climbers growing on them! 🌳✂️
Over the past several months, we’ve noticed an increasing number of local trees where climbing plants such as ivy, honeysuckle and other native climbers have been deliberately cut at the base.
While this is often done with good intentions, it can actually cause more harm than good.
Why these climbers should usually be left alone:
🐦You may be destroying valuable wildlife habitat
Climbing plants provide food and shelter for a huge range of wildlife. Mature ivy produces late-season nectar for bees and other pollinators when few other plants are flowering, while its berries provide an important winter food source for birds. Dense growth can also offer nesting sites, roosting spots and protection for insects, birds and bats.
🪵You risk damaging the tree itself
Many climbers attach themselves firmly to the bark. Attempting to pull them away can strip off sections of bark, leaving the tree vulnerable to disease, fungal infections and pests. In some cases, this damage can be far more harmful than the climber ever was.
🔎It is easy to accidentally cut the tree
Older climbers often develop thick, woody stems that closely resemble tree bark. Without specialist knowledge, it can be difficult to tell where the climber ends and the tree begins. A misplaced saw cut can damage the tree’s living tissue (as seen below) and, in severe cases, kill the tree.
⚠️Dead climbers can become a safety hazard
When a climber is cut at the base, the upper growth dies slowly over many months. As it dries out and decays, it can become brittle and unstable. During strong winds or storms, large sections may break away and fall onto paths, roads or people below.
How you can help:
If you are concerned about a tree in a park, woodland or public space, please do not take matters into your own hands. Instead, report your concerns to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC). Their qualified arborists can assess whether any management is necessary and carry out work safely while considering both the tree and the wildlife that depends on it.
Let's protect our trees and green spaces in a way that benefits the whole ecosystem. Please share to help spread the word. 👇🌿
