A council investigation is underway after a tree branch fell on a bowling green at Victoria Park in Leamington Spa, injuring three players during a Para Bowls qualifying event. The incident occurred on Sunday, June 21, and has raised questions about tree safety protocols on council-owned land.
Incident Details and Immediate Response
Three competitors in the Bowls England Para Bowls qualifiers were struck by a falling branch from a chestnut tree. They received medical attention at the scene. The area was immediately fenced off, and Warwickshire County Council's forestry department was called to remove the rest of the tree.
The tree had been inspected in November 2025 and given a category four status, meaning it was scheduled for routine work within 12 months. According to Councillor Will Roberts (Green, Leamington Willes), portfolio holder for neighbourhood services at Warwick District Council, "At the time of inspection there was no indication that it was to drop any branches."
Investigation and Tree Inspection Policies
Speaking at a recent meeting of Warwick District Council, Cllr Roberts confirmed: "The council's health and safety manager is carrying out an investigation into the incident and we await the report on their findings." County forestry will return in autumn after the bowling greens season ends to remove the tree entirely.
Cllr Roberts explained that category four status indicates a tree is scheduled for routine work within 12 months. The chestnut tree had been inspected less than a year before the incident.
Questions Raised About Tree Safety
Councillor Bill Gifford (Lib Dem, Leamington Milverton) said the incident "does raise some questions." He asked how many trees the council manages and how frequently they are inspected. Cllr Roberts revealed that an estimated 19,000 trees stand on district land, with between 6,000 and 6,500 inspected each year.
In high-footfall areas like parks, trees are checked annually. Most other district sites are monitored on a three-year cycle. Woodland areas are inspected every five years, but woodland trees near homes or highways are checked every three years. "If inspections suggest trees need a different inspection cycle then this will be actioned," Cllr Roberts said.
Policy Review and Future Actions
The incident at Victoria Park is being reviewed by the health and safety manager. Once findings are available, they will be discussed with county forestry. "Any recommendations for changes in policy will, of course, be looked at for implementation," Cllr Roberts added.
The investigation aims to determine why the branch fell despite no prior indication of weakness, and whether inspection cycles or procedures need adjustment to prevent similar incidents.
