For the Chop?

Walking through the park today, I noticed these trees had all been marked with a white cross. I'm guessing this means that they are going to be removed as part of the park renovations. Seems a bit drastic but it could be to reveal the rockery behind, which originally had a waterfall. This was designed and installed at a cost of £500, by Messrs Pulham and Sons ... "to convey an air of artificial rudeness which will resemble a natural
structure".

Source:Wigan Examiner August 9th 1878

Pulham were amongst the foremost exponents of Victorian rock garden design pioneering the use of realistic and long lasting Portland cement based artificial stone though in their later works they used natural rocks. Other examples of their work can be found in many public parks, but most famously in the grounds of Buckingham Palace.

Well I'll keep you posted :)