Plymouth Tree Felling - ELF’s Response

By Elf

As an environmental law charity, ELF is deeply concerned about the recent incident in Plymouth, where over 100 mature trees were felled overnight despite significant local opposition. The trees were removed to make way for a £12.7m pedestrian walkway leading from the sea to the city center, ignoring more than 16,000 signatures on a petition calling for the existing trees to be incorporated into the new design.

Local residents were not the only ones to voice their disapproval. The Woodland Trust also lobbied Plymouth City Council to reconsider its decision. A council survey revealed that 68% of respondents were against the redevelopment plan, while only 16% were in favor.

This incident underscores the urgent need for stronger environmental protections, particularly for mature and veteran trees that play a crucial role in supporting local ecosystems and sequestering carbon. Current protections, such as Tree Protection Orders, are weak and can be overridden by planning permission. Moreover, councils, who are often responsible for issuing these orders, may also be leading the developments that threaten the trees in question.

The Plymouth incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of strong environmental protections and the need for public participation in environmental decision-making. ELF remains committed to providing support and resources to individuals and communities who might otherwise be unable to fight for the environment, upholding the principles of the Aarhus Convention.

We encourage our supporters and communities to join us in advocating for stronger environmental protections, promoting public participation, and working towards a more sustainable and equitable future for all.

Consider donating to help us continue fighting for environmental rights.

The work that we do is powered by people like you. If you’d like to support us, as we help grassroots organisations fight for environemental justice, you can do so by donating here.