Having been in the park looking for Firecrests I find it hard to believe they intend to fell 260 trees which would be about half the park. Also the blog talks about mossland habitat which seems odd in a Victorian public park. Unfortunately this gives a misleading impression and stirs up people's emotions.
So going back to the original planning application it appears that the Council are creating 3 zones
1) Victorian zone - restoring some of the 1870 features to restore the original look and feel of the park (includes removing some trees) 2) Natural zone - biodiversity, wildlife habitat etc. (includes vegetation management and the planting of new trees) 3) Community zone - children's play area, sports, catering etc.
To minimise impact on bats they will be erecting 30 bat boxes, doing demolition work outside the hibernation period and employing bat experts. There will be a net loss of trees in the park as the original design included open vistas etc. but to offset this, and to meet their target of an increase of 10% of tree cover in Manchester, trees will be planted elsewhere.
As a Manchester Council Tax payer I think the proposal is a valid attempt to balance all the park users requirements and I won't be signing the petition.
(COPY OF WHAT I WROTE IN RESPONSE TO RELATED E-MAILS I RECEIVED): Hi, I've read all of the e-mails below (along with the other related e-mails in my inbox) with keen interest and have still decided to go ahead and sign the petition; In response to some of the points below: I am not from America; nor am I new to the area. What I am, is concerned that any biodiversity initiatives do not come at the expense of precious already existing trees. (No matter how much money's on offer... - In my view, these days, sizeable sums of money on offer quite often dictate all sorts of agendas...) As has been aptly pointed out below, these trees have already well-proven their merits by the very fact that they have withstood all that has been described below. Surely, if anything, this should teach us something of their worth? That is not to say that I'm not appreciative of the need for bio-diversity - As a long-term active member of Birchfields Park Forest Garden, I am greatly aware of its need (although it should be noted that I can't speak on behalf of the rest of our Forest Garden, nor the rest of the Friends of Birchfields Park) - But to my mind, the trees' long-term existence in itself proves them a vital component of the local existing wildlife's make-up. On top of their aesthetic qualities and historical merits, they additionally carry their own practical benefits, create their own wildlife habitat, and I wonder how fruit trees and berry bushes would measure up to their huge oxygen-generating capacities in this polluted city? - Like I said, these are just my personal opinions but I'm going to sign the petition now. Best regards, Yasmin Quayyum.
The council held an open day on Sat 1st Dec to inform people about their plans for the park and the imminent felling of 260 trees. The work will start by 10th Dec.
A group of concerned residents are objecting to the plans and have set up a website, http://savealexandraparktrees.wordpress.com/, where you can find out more details, including how to get involved and links to an online petition. All further communication about the park and action around tree felling will be through this site.
There is a meeting today Monday 3rd Dec by the lake at 2.45pm, with the leader of the Green Party in Manchester.
If you are unable to come to the meeting today, please sign the petition and forward it on.
