Pruning a 10 foot tall bay tree

i’ve wanted to prune this tree for years and never got around to it, but it’s cutting out a lot of light now. I’d really like it around 6feet but i’m Worried the shock might kill it. There are several “trunks” so I was thinking of cutting all but the main one, and then trying to reduce the branches. Advice please

 

I had a similar challenge with our bay tree a few weeks ago.

I took out a lot of the additional trunks out, keeping an eye on the shape as I went along. Taking out some of the trunks can leave holes in the tree. I then took some length off the horizontal branches to balance the shape.

I cant see it upsetting an established tree at this time of year but I do expect the tree to bush out from where I've cut the trunks back.

 

I’m wondering if I could plant one or two in gaps in my mixed hedge; seems like it might be a nice addition.

 

We are slowly adding laurel to a 5 ft. tall mixed hedge which gives better cover than the bay would due to bigger, closer spaced leaves.

 

Last year in the wet summer, seedlings germinated beneath my tree. I potted a few up and they are doing well which is why I thought of filling some gaps in a hedge.