Member Article

Poisoned trees replaced

A row of mature Lime trees, poisoned in an act of environmental sabotage, have been replaced with new specimens, restoring the wooded approach to a prime development site.

Mayor of Morpeth, Cllr. Nic Best and County Councillor for Morpeth North, Cllr. David Bawn, helped plant the new trees along the access road to Linden Homes’ prestigious Saint George housing scheme, on the edge of the town.

Said the Mayor: “It is very good that the character of this part of Morpeth is being restored. Like many, I was shocked to discover what had happened to these old trees and am relieved that they are being replaced.”

Cllr. Bawn added: “It is pleasing to see that this puzzling case has eventually reached a positive conclusion. In restoring this avenue of trees, we are reflecting the town’s motto ‘Inter Silvas Et Flumina Habitans’ – living between woods and water. Hopefully they will thrive and stand for years to come.”

Experts had concluded that whoever poisoned the trees – believed to have been standing for over 100 years - would have had to make multiple visits and probably operated at night. A police investigation did not identify anyone as being responsible.

Planning permission for the Saint George development singled out the trees for preservation and they provided a majestic entrance to the show homes and sales office at the development, which sits beside natural woodland and green space, offering a range of three, four and five bedroomed homes.

Sean Egan, Managing Director with Galliford Try Partnerships North, of which Linden Homes is the new build housing division, said: “We were stunned by what happened to these trees and cannot think of why anyone would do such a thing. They were beautiful specimens which really entranced this extremely attractive development.

“The rural quality of landscape and green space at Saint George is what differentiates it from other housing sites in Morpeth. I am pleased that we have been able to demonstrates our commitment to this by working with our local council colleagues to professionally remove the old trees and replant new ones which will, in the fullness of time, become just as majestic.”

The felling and replanting process was arranged through Newcastle based One Landscapes, which provides design, maintenance and management services for schemes from private urban gardens to large business parks – such as Cobalt in North Tyneside.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Paul Dobbie .