Overview

• Harrow Council has posted notices in all borough parks advising visitors not to sit or gather under large trees after several large branches suddenly fell in Stanmore, Hatch End and Pinner.
• Inspections of trees near playgrounds and outdoor gyms found no hazardous branches, and officials say all mature specimens currently pose no immediate risk.
• The council attributes the unpredictable falls to Sudden Branch Drop Syndrome, a heat-related phenomenon in which dehydration stress prompts mature trees to self-amputate branches.
• No injuries have been reported from the recent branch drops, and notices will remain in place as authorities continue to monitor tree health.
• Species most susceptible to the syndrome include oak, beech, willow and cedar, and council leaders are working with experts to refine safety protocols.