THE churchyard of All Saints Church in Helmsley is set for a "spruce up" under new discussions by the town council.

Under review are the removal of six of the churchyard's 45 trees; three birches, two cherry trees and a plum tree, as well as the reduction, pruning and pollarding of several others. The work will be discussed by the council at a meeting on Monday.

The churchyard is part of a North York Moors conservation area, which is why the removal of the trees needs discussion and approval.

An arboreal tree survey was commissioned last year which recommended that some of the work be carried out, but there may be some additional work on top of their recommendations.

The work has been requested by the church and requires them to notify the North York Moors National Park Authority, which then submits its opinion on the work to the council. If a disagreement should arise in such circumstances, the park has the power to set tree preservation orders.

One of the church's wardens Valma Child said: "This process is to make sure that anything which is done meets the highest standard.

"It's just going to be sympathetic pruning and thinning of a densely wooded part of the yard to allow more light. There may be one or two fellings, followed by some replanting.

"The silver birches don't prune well. When we replant those, it may be a different species we plant.

"It's unlikely that any of the work will be able to carried out by next autumn anyway as we want to avoid disturbing nesting birds."