Folk wandering alongside the Wensum may be surprised to some of the trees looking even more bare than usual heading into spring.

The unmistakable look of weeping willow trees perched along the river have been given quite the trim and now look unrecognisable thanks to pollarding work.

Teams from Norwich City Council started the essential works along Riverside Walk, between the Compleat Angler pub and Pulls Ferry, last month.

Norwich Evening News: The weeping willows have been given the sharp cut by the Norwich City Council (Image: Newsquest)The weeping willows have been given the sharp cut by the Norwich City Council (Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest)

A spokesperson for the city council said at the time: "We know this is a popular path and we would like to thank everyone for their patience while this important work is carried out."

With the trees being cut down to the bark when work was completed recently, with no leaves left in sight, it appears that the weeping willows have been given too sharp a cut.

However, local arborist John Allaway says that this is "normal practice" and that it can take a couple of years for the trees to look normal again.

Norwich Evening News: John Allaway, an arborist who lives in Drayton Highroad, said the trees would look fine in a couple of years (Image: John Allaway)John Allaway, an arborist who lives in Drayton Highroad, said the trees would look fine in a couple of years (Image: John Allaway) (Image: John Allaway)

Mr Allaway, a tree surgeon who lives in Drayton High Road, said: "The work may appear drastic but it is normal practice when pruning weeping willows.

"Regrowth will begin this spring and within two years they will be looking fine.

"By year three, to the untrained eye, they will look as if nothing has ever been done to them."

Norwich Evening News: The work carried out on the trees is known as pollarding (Image: Newsquest)The work carried out on the trees is known as pollarding (Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest)

Prior to the chop, some may have noticed that the trees were left with half a haircut at the end of January, having only half the leaves cut during the pollarding process.

However, the council confirmed it would resume the work, saying: "The essential tree work to the willows on the banks of the Wensum river was planned in two phases.

"The first phase was carried out and the second will start on February 13."

Norwich Evening News: The trees were left with a half-finished cut at the end of January, as part of the council's two phase plan (Image: Sally Lloyd)The trees were left with a half-finished cut at the end of January, as part of the council's two phase plan (Image: Sally Lloyd) (Image: Sally Lloyd)