The Phase 1, Phase 2 and Periphery Gardens each have a distinctive character of their own, which adds to our enjoyment and to the value of all our properties.

Some residents enjoy gardening and we all benefit from their efforts and the extra plantings and attention they volunteer to improving our gardens. We all owe them a vote of thanks. Accordingly, the CARA Council encourages any resident who is so inclined to enhance the gardens and asks only that the enhancements should not change the character of the Gardens nor leave a legacy of maintenance that future residents may be unwilling or unable to bear.

From time to time all gardens require something more than just maintenance and, as trees and shrubs get bigger, more radical change – such as pruning, re-shaping or removal – may be necessary. To ensure that the basis for any such action is clearly understood by those affected, CARA Council have adopted the following procedure for proposed changes to the garden:

1. A resident who wishes to propose the removal or major pruning of any tree or shrub should inform the CARA Council.

2. CARA Council will circulate the proposal to all residents who are likely to be affected by the proposed change and ask if anyone objects. The agreed Common Areas Plan (see Gardens Guidance Plan for the Common Areas in the previous Guidance sub-section page) will guide these considerations.

3. If there are objections and/or cost implications, CARA Council will decide. In reaching this decision greater weight will be given to the wishes of those nearest the tree/shrub, and issues of light/shade or possible structural damage will outweigh objections based upon aesthetics or the loss of distant views.

4. As Cerne Abbas is in a tree conservation area, the felling or lopping of mature trees requires planning permission from the BCP Council. CARA will seek any necessary permission.

Responsibility for maintenance of the Phase 1 internal garden beds, the Phase 1 entrance garden beds, The Avenue frontage gardens and the Tower Road West boundary gardens westward to The Mall has been assumed by the Gardening Club (see separate page). Our gardening contractors are responsible for the border edging and lawns in these areas and all other communal areas within Cerne Abbas.

Aside from this procedure it may be necessary for CARA Council to take action to remove dead, diseased or dangerous trees as part of its stewardship of the Gardens – subject of course to planning permission. We run a programme of tree safety inspections by qualified tree safety surveyors nominally at two-yearly intervals or as otherwise indicated by tree conditions -. The inspection reports – and any associated reports – are available in the “Tree Surveys” pages of this website.