An arborist has been brought in by Tamworth Regional Council and community members are volunteering help to save them.

At Tuesday night’s meeting of Tamworth Regional Council, director of regional services Peter Resch said they expected a report back from the arborist soon, and had increased the watering of the trees in the event poison was used and it was of a soluble nature. Police have also been informed.

The Friends of Barraba Trees group was initially formed to help save 28 of the Queen St trees after the council identified them for removal due to safety concerns.

They were eventually saved, but now the group is preparing to go into bat again for the historic avenue, vowing to do whatever it can.

Members Margaret Harris and Andrew Wright are unconvinced poisoning is behind the downturn in the trees’ health, preferring to wait until the arborist reports back.

“I find it hard to believe someone would have enough poison to go around to every one of the trees,” Mr Wright said, also wondering how they could have achieved that without being seen.

“It could be that they’re stressed from changing temperatures and the seasons changing.”

Mrs Harris said some of the trees were sicker than others, particularly six at one end of the street.

She said, though, there was hope that with some intensive care, a large proportion of the affected trees could be saved.

Both thanked the council for its swift response in implementing an intensive watering and feeding program in line with advice from the arborist engaged by council.

Mrs Harris said their group had offered the council any assistance it needed.

“We want to help in any way we can,” she said.