REMOVAL OF TREES

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28894, 14 May 1959, Page 7

REMOVAL OF TREES

Protest Letter Supported Mr Richard St. Barbe Baker, founder of the Men of the Trees organisation, has written from England to the editor of “The Press” in support of a letter published on February 25 protesting at the removal of lime trees at "The Grange,” Avonside Drive. In his reply to the first letter, written by “Tree Lover,” the Town Clerk (Mr H. S. Feast) said the removal of the trees was necessary because of development at the site and that others were removed which were debilitated and dangerous. "I would like to thank ‘Tree Lover* for his word of protest at their felling, and say I share his concern for the other trees in Christchurch." said Mr St Barbe Baker. "I have noted the Town Clerk's comment; surely when any new development is taking place, would it not be better wisely to leave the older trees to give a mature appearance to new homes. He repeats the word ‘dangerous’ twice, and talks about "the interests of public - safety’. Treelovers in England know so well these hackneyed excuses so often' put forward by public bodies when an avenqe of trees gets in their way or when somebody needs the timber. “It was during the Queen's visit to New Zealand that her glorious Elms of the Broad Walk, Kensington, were sacrificed,” said Mr St. Barbe Baker. "They too were said to be ’diseased and dangerous’, although a careful examination of each tree after it was felled, proved that not a single tree among them was, in fact, diseased or dangerous.” Mr St Barbe Baker said that although the Men of the Trees were unable to save the Elms of the Broad Walk they were able to have a threat to 4000 other elms’ in Hyde Park removed. “I trust that the Men of the Trees of Christchurch will be ever vigilant for ‘a tree that moves some to tears of joy, is to others a thing that stands in the way’,” said Mr St Barbe Baker.