News / Trees
‘Barbaric behaviour’ as weeping willow trees chopped down
Two majestic weeping willows near Temple Meads were chopped down on Wednesday, with their removal described as “heartbreaking”, “shameful” and “barbaric”.
The pair of trees overlooking the Floating Harbour between Meads Reach and Valentine bridges have been cleared to make way for a floating pontoon that will connect Temple Quay with Cattle Market Road – with the initial plans providing a walkway towards the original site of Bristol Arena.
The riverbank that the trees were on is located only metres away from a proposed development on an area of empty land that is set to become a four-star hotel and dozens of flats.
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The trees in 2021 – photo: Mark Ashdown
Despite opposition from Bristol Tree Forum due to the loss of the trees, planning permission for the floating pontoon – a Bristol City Council scheme – was granted by councillors in 2019.
“The battle is lost but the war goes on,” said Bristol Tree Forum chair, Mark Ashdown.
IKB Developments – who had no involvement in the felling of the trees – promise that their nearby development will have “extensive landscaping with trees, grassed and planted areas to create a living oasis”.
Although IKB’s proposals are separate from the floating pontoon, a spokesperson confirmed to Bristol24/7 that the company “will be helping with that walkway too”.
Institute of Chartered Foresters education & outreach officer, Rob Hawkins, said that these trees were “one of the only redeeming features in that bit of Bristol. I fail to see how this tree is the way of building on this site.”
Bristol Tree Forum secretary, Vassili Papastavrou, said: “You will be told that ‘after’ will be better and there will be lots of replacements planted.
“Yet a lot of the time they aren’t even planted and the money just languishes in the council bank account. They will never replace what was lost here.
“The Bristol Tree Forum objected. But in Bristol mature trees have no value to the Local Planning Authority or the ruling administration. The people facilitating the destruction of Bristol should be ashamed of themselves.”
The trees overlooked the ferry stop next to Temple Meads – photo: Mark Ashdown
On social media, there was a furious reaction since Bristol24/7 first reported the news that the weeping willows were being cut down.
David Taylor tweeted: “Barbaric behaviour, unthinking. That tree was one of the most beautiful things in the area.”
Gemma Compton said: “I sat there early on Tuesday (yesterday) morning with a coffee, it’s always been a great peaceful spot before I start work. That morning there was a heron sheltering under the willow. Bristol claims to be a green city – what a joke!”
Yaz Brien added: “Heartbreaking. I love the quiet of a weeping willow, especially in urban areas. I’ve sat under this many times and am so so sad that it’s being killed for no clear reason.”
What the floating pontoon could look like – image: CH2M Hill
The plans for the removal of the two willows to facilitate the construction of a floating pontoon were approved in 2019 – image: CH2M Hill
A floating pontoon will connect here with Cattle Market Road – photo: Mark Ashdown
The trees before they were finally cut down on Wednesday – photo: Martin Booth
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read next:
- Floating walkway to link Temple Quay to arena
- Ambitious development plans for empty land near Temple Meads
- Endangered trees and local plan on agenda for Bristol Tree Forum
- 70ft tree designated ‘anti-social hedge’
- Dozens of women ‘marry’ trees under threat from new development
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