An inquest revealed that a recommendation to remove ivy from a tree was made before it broke and tragically killed a 12-year-old girl named Brooke Wiggins. The incident occurred days before her 13th birthday in Banstead, Surrey. Despite the suggestion, the ivy was not cleared by council workers. Brooke fell from a rope swing attached to a branch that suddenly gave way, leading to her death.
The tree, under the care of Surrey County Council, had been assessed in May 2022, with a proposal to remove the ivy for closer inspection. A follow-up review was planned for May 2024 but did not happen. The hidden crack in the tree, only discovered after Brooke’s accident, had not been visible from the ground level.
During the hearing, Katherine McDonald, the council’s group manager for countryside, explained that the ivy removal task was rated as a priority five, indicating it should have been completed within a year. However, there was no concrete plan in place despite receiving advice from a tree surgeon.
McDonald emphasized the challenges of managing a large number of trees under the council’s responsibility, prioritizing tasks based on value for money and addressing the most critical issues first. The council’s policy includes removing rope swings from trees promptly and considering warning notices in areas with multiple swings.
Miss McDonald clarified that if rope swings had been identified on the tree Brooke was on, advisory signs would have been considered. The council provides information on rope swing dangers to schools and set up a group to decide the tree’s fate following Brooke’s tragic accident.
When questioned about consulting with the local community or involving Brooke’s family in the decision-making process, McDonald stated that it was deemed inappropriate due to sensitivity concerns. After the incident, the council decided to reduce the tree to a trunk as a precautionary measure, even though it was deemed healthy.
