Worried cherry blossom tree damaged / dying

I'm almost sure it has.

 

Removing the ivy cut the stems of the ivy as low down as possible. Over the next few months the ivy will die, dry out and loosen it's grip on the tree. Then you can easily remove the ivy with no damage to the bark. The bark may still have a few marks and little bits of ivy on it.

 

Wanted to say the same. If cut at the base ivy dies, it only attaches itself to the tree. It's how council treats ivy that tries to climb old "london planes" in the park next to me.