...With Dudley Council!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I arrived at work this morning to discover all the trees around a car park that is being refurbished have been cut down. 2 mistle thrushes sat confused and probably also in despair with the human race. In these trees we have had redpolls, fieldfares and the mistle thrushes. I don't see why it was necessary to cut them down when it is only the tarmac that is being replaced ( it was bumpy & breaking up). This is for a new play barn that is being built for children with disabilities. Ladies in the offices at that end of the building have had their bird feeders taken down whilst the work goes on. The large metal sheds have been dismantled to discover their was a fox den underneath it. (Just in time for breeding season!)
I have worked my guts out making that site environmentally friendly & a Breathing Places School. I organised the £8,000 quad pond & garden to be designed / landscaped and supported my students to apply for the funding (from Dudley Council ha ha ha what a joke) which was hard work. Blackbirds nested in this garden last year.
Ironically they are going to 're-design' our lovely playground with trees, hedges & lots of birds (mainly goldfinches & chaffinches) and make it a 'suitable wildlife/ sensory garden' for children with disabilities. They will probably cut down all of the trees (beech, sycamore & silver birch) and hedges. They will probably replace these with inappropriate saplings. They will probably dig up my free tree sapling that I organised & planted for years to come (Breathing Places task).
The council are so inconsiderate in the name of political correctness they contradict themselves. We were awarded £8,000 to improve the leisure facilities on site 2 years ago & then they go and destroy other areas of the site.
I really wonder why I bother, the kids & birds appreciate it I'm sure, but I am fighting a losing battle against the council who just do whatever they want to look good.
I really think there should be laws about cutting trees down to develop an area, but this is probably managed by the council. They should have to request permission from another agency before anything is done.
Unknown said: Where is birdmum? She changed her name just after this posting and has been quiet since.
Where is birdmum? She changed her name just after this posting and has been quiet since.
I've been thinking the same Brenda, as I'm sure most people have. Hope all is well with her.
I've also wondered where she is and if she is OK. I left a message on her profile page some time ago, but she hasn't replied. I hope all is well with her.
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
Gosh there are a lot of personal details being posted on this thread.
Not a good idea at all.
Janus: You are better to get in touch with the 'Tree Preservation' people if you need to talk about the disposition/concern of any trees in your area.
http://www.breckland.gov.uk/treepreservation
http://www.tameside.gov.uk/trees/preservation/guide#t1
There is a lot of reading in a couple of links that will explain a lot more about Trees.
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Hi Janusz
As Blackbird has so correctly pointed out, it is not a good thing to put any personal information visible on forums. That is how many spammers find email addresses to bombard you with all sorts of undesirable material - they use bits of software to search the web, looking for email addresses to collect for their dubious pursuits. I would recommend you edit your post to take out your contact details.
With regard to your problem in hand, I am so frustrated and sorry to say that you are not alone. Every year we receive calls from people from all over the country who are trying to stop their council that is hell-bent on cutting down streetside trees and trees in parks and other amenity areas, using assorted and often quite lame excuses to do so. Worst thing is, this is far too often done during the birds' breeding season. Never underestimate the power of local people in trying to fight tree-felling. A well-organised local action group is often the best thing, especially if you can get the local press on your side and publicise the issue with the correct angle. Lloyd has already flagged up the Wildlife Action Pack in his earlier post. In addition, talking to the RSPB regional office that covers your area can often be useful, since the staff there know the local authorities and many of the local issues.
Find a full list of regional RSPB Offices here
Dear RSPB,For the past 9 years I lived in Beckton near Mitchell Walk, E6 London, within Newham Council. This area is covered with beautiful trees and it gives perfect home for number of birds. These are over 30 years old trees, recently our Newham Council decided to cut them all for health and safety reasons, of which I don't understand how a perfectly healthy tree that is a shelter for lots of wild birds could be a threat to health and safety? Please help to stop changing this eco environment ASAP. As almost everyday a few trees are being cut down here, what will happen to all the birds that live here? Please help!RegardsJanusz
It does make you dispair. H&S in my day was called common sense and you develped that through experience as a child. You fell over, you where told to look where you were going. If you jumped from a height and hurt yourself on landing you learned not to do it again. It probably will not be long before all footpaths through woods will have to have warning signs in case someone trips over a root or bangs thier head with a low branch etc, etc. I am all for people with disabilities being able to enjoy nature and the outdoors but to cut down trees and destroy wildlife habitat to make a special area seems to defeat the object.
I'm always look forward to seeing the wonderful green of the leaf buds coming into life you don't see any other time of year and the first swallow around the 15th April. Spring, Spring Spring.