Greens Call on Council to Reverse Decision to Fell Oak.

After nearly 2,000 people signed a petition asking Bristol City Council not to fell a mature holm oak tree on Ashley Down Road, Emma Edwards (Green candidate for Bishopston and Ashley Down), who submitted the petition to Bristol’s Full council in February, has said she is incredibly disappointed that the Council is still planning to fell the tree.

In response to the petition, the council said, “We recognise residents’ concerns surrounding the removal of this tree and how tree removals can become symbolic of wider climate and environmental issues. Unfortunately, there are occasions when tree removal is unavoidable due to damage to property.”

Responding to the council, Emma said, “This calling of the tree as ‘symbolic’ is incorrect. It fails to recognise the tree’s actual role in local air quality and pollution levels, as well as its ability to absorb carbon. The reply then went on to say that the tree would be replaced, which is not adequate. You would have to plant over 50 new trees and wait 30 years before they would have the same carbon-reducing effect as this established tree.”

Emma, Councillor Jude English and other Green Candidates, Lily Fitzgibbon, Tim Wye and Will Mountford, have now written a joint letter in response asking for the felling decision to be reconsidered.

Jude English, a Green Councillor for Ashley, added, “We are calling on the Council to reverse this decision. What is the point of declaring an ecological emergency if we don’t put nature first?”