Chris Packham hits out at council 'vandalism' as 100 trees are chopped down

15 March 2023 , 18:50

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Contractors begin tearing down the trees in Plymouth under cover of darkness (Image: wayne Perry)

Furious TV star Chris Packham has slammed “vandal” authorities for chopping down over 100 healthy trees under the cover of darkness.

The trees were felled in Plymouth, Devon on Tuesday evening after the final go-ahead was given just hours earlier by the city council.

A total of 130 mature trees are being cut down as part of the Armada Way regeneration scheme.

Plymouth City Council says it will replace them with 169 “semi-mature” trees which it claims will be more suited to the location.

Contractors were forced to stop work to cut down the trees in the early hours today after an injunction was issued.

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The High Court order was served after 1am by the group Save the Trees of Armada Way (Straw).

The line of trees before they were ripped out by contractors (Matt Gilley/PlymouthLive)

But by that time the majority of the trees had been felled, with only 12 remaining.

More than 12,000 people signed a petition last year to save the existing trees.

And Springwatch presenter Chris was fuming.

He said: “What the actual Plymouth City Council? What is the matter with you? What do you not understand? Despicable vandalism.”

Chris Packham has hit out at the local council over the tree-felling (BBC/Pete Dadds)

The tree felling is part of a regeneration plan for the city centre which was paused in February to allow a consultation to take place.

But on Tuesday Plymouth City Council announced the revised project would restart.

Tory council leader Richard Bingley had made an “urgent decision” to “override normal process” and cut down the trees.

Martin Fricker