Any witnesses to this coming down yesterday?
I believe horse chestnuts are liable to break suddenly, but I've not seen any reports of anyone injured.
One came down very near to the park about two years ago (on Dacres Road, just opposite the main entrance to the school). It wasn't a particularly windy day. One minute it was standing, the next it was down, on top of some cars. Very luckily no one was hurt. It might be that these trees have reached an age where they are liable to suddenly keel over.
Also they are being attacked by a weevil. Their leaves turn brown before autumn.
I dont know whether it's in the same area but the fire brigade were called last week to put out a fire in the border that runs along the back of the 'woodland walk' but beside the Pavillion. The fire caught a number of trees around it which were dry so I wonder whether this weakened one? As i say, it might be completely different part of the park.