TREE surgeons at Harcourt Arboretum have been trimming and pruning the trees ready for the spring season.

Arborists Karl Lofthouse and Guy Horwood have cut back a large oak tree in the visitors’ car park at the Nuneham Courtenay attraction.

Mr Horwood said: “That particular tree was a fantastic old specimen that is in quite a prominent location in the middle of the car park, but it is slowly dying back.

“We have to make sure it is safe as possible because it’s such a lovely old tree and is a very valuable asset for the arboretum. It has got a massive habitat with an awful lot of insects, birds and bats that will use it.”