Campaigners keep ongoing vigil in bid to save trees by M32

Drivers beep their horns in support of campaigners on Lower Ashley Road, who have been keeping a vigil to save three maple trees from being felled.

Strewn with colourful ribbons, the mature trees that are now behind a tall wire mesh fence represent the last remaining in the spot just by the traffic lights opposite the Tudor Road junction after two were cut down on New Year’s Eve.

The move sparked an urgent community response, with two residents chaining themselves to trees to stop more being chopped down.

This drizzly Tuesday morning is the latest in a string of days in which campaigners have been doing shifts at the site in a bid to prevent any further felling.

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The tree felling was initially approved under plans to build offices and student accommodation on the Lower Ashley Road site in St Paul’s, which were approved in 2016.

However new proposals for 31 homes, including affordable housing, have since been submitted by North Devon-based Clayewater Homes. Bristol City Council asked the landowner John Garlick not to fell any more trees until this latest application has been decided.

Huddled by a small fire to keep warm, Ella has been by the side of the road each day since December 31 to keep watch over the trees that are on the edge of the site.

“We shouldn’t be losing any more mature trees in the city,” she says.

Anita Bennett (far right), pictured with two campaigners on Wednesday morning, says mature trees need more protection. Photo by Ellie Pipe

Homemade signs are propped around the area and the small cluster of campaigners wave enthusiastically at drivers, who honk their horns in support.

“You can’t replace trees like that,” comments a passing resident, who did not want to be named. “This is right in the city where trees are needed.”

Chris Gwyntopher, who lives in Easton, is just reaching the end of the morning shift in what is his fourth day at the site. A handwritten sign hung around his neck reads ‘trees can save lives’.

“Those trees help to clean the air so fewer people suffer from potentially fatal health issues,” he tells Bristol24/7.

“This is an area of high pollution so it’s really daft to remove a natural means of cleaning the air. The trees are helping to mitigate against the climate emergency.”

People have expressed their support for the campaign to save the maples. Photo by Ellie Pipe

Kate, another resident lending her support at the site, adds: “It’s bigger than just these trees.”

The campaigners argue that in a city such as Bristol that has declared a climate emergency, there needs to be stronger protections for mature trees.

“Fines are not high enough, we want to see a whole new policy on mature trees,” says Anita Bennett, a former journalist and resident who is a driving force behind the growing campaign.

“We are all concerned about our children, we need to keep mature trees because we have a climate emergency,” she continues.

“The first view for many coming into Bristol could be a really appealing welcome, with mature green trees and a sympathetic property,” she continues.

“Developments can work around mature trees, you just have to have the will to do it.”

A meeting between the potential developers, mayor Marvin Rees and campaigners is scheduled for Wednesday, January 8.

The residents hope to see a cross-party consensus emerge from the meeting on the need for mature urban trees to be granted more protection. They are calling for the matter to go before a fully elected planning committee.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s meeting, a Bristol City Council spokesperson said: “Outline planning permission to redevelop the site into office space and accommodation was granted in February 2016 which permitted the removal of the protected trees if developers pay for replacement trees within one mile of the site.

“This permission remains in place, however planning officers had asked the landowner to refrain from removing these trees until a decision on a new planning application received for the site had been considered. We are disappointed to learn the owner is not following this advice and a local councillor has again asked the landowner to leave the remaining three trees in place whilst this new application is considered.”

Those behind the grassroots campaign to save the trees say they are prepared to stay on Lower Ashley Road for as long as necessary.

The developer and landowner have declined to comment at this stage.

The stump left behind after one of the trees was felled. Photo by Ellie Pipe

Campaigners say they will keep a presence at the site as long as necessary. Photo by Ellie Pipe

Main photo by Ellie Pipe

Read more: ‘Trees are fundamental to the health and wellbeing of our communities’