THE planting of a ‘forest’ of hundreds of trees in Dodington by a conservation charity has outraged two town councils and residents who were not consulted – for the third time this year.


Dodington Parish Council and Yate Town Council have raised concerns after more than 300 trees were planted on land adjacent to Elswick Park and Mallard Close on Wednesday, February 25 by South Gloucestershire Council and The Conservation Volunteers (TCV).


The councils have previously disputed the planting of trees at Cranleigh Court Road and Scott Way in Yate earlier this year where nearly 1,000 trees have been planted.


Dodington Parish Council clerk Wendy Mayo discussed the recurring issue at a Yate Town Council meeting on Tuesday, March 24.


She said: “We were astounded to find hundreds of trees planted overnight on the land with no consultation or contact at all.


“The hedgeline along which the trees have been planted is full of plum trees and, when the new trees mature the plums will lose sunlight with the effect that a mature edible hedge which offers up a bounty of fruit in the Autumn will stop producing."


Christine Howard, chair of Dodington Parish Council, said: “I am not against trees they are a wonderful things to have and help with clear air but in the proper place and after asking people if they want them.


“I feel sorry for the residents who have woken up to a forest in front of them.”


Tim Scott, who lives in Dovecote where the trees near Scott Way have been planted, said: “I have a family with three young children who play on the green outside my home where I've lived for 11 years and they will no longer be able to do this as there are now 500 trees."


A South Gloucestershire Council spokesman said: “We are always keen to increase the number of new trees planted in the area and increasing tree cover is part of our Climate Change Strategy, so officers worked with TCV to identify a potential planting site.

"A large piece of land which we own was chosen and members of the charity were joined by council officers and local residents to plant a variety of native trees including Crab Apple and Cherry trees.

"The trees currently stand at less than 12 inches high and when they mature, the aim is to provide a screen to the busy road.


“Since planting the trees we have received positive feedback from a number of local residents and members of the Dodington community.”