These are three beautiful
black poplar trees which have been a feature of my veggie plot for at least the last 30 years. The trees themselves must have been at least 60 or 70 years old. The local blackbirds and thrushes sit on the highest branch and their song carries for miles. On quiet Summer days you can just listen to the sound of the wind in the trees. Wonderful!
They have been well maintained over the years with skillful tree surgery, pollarded every few years..until now.
The current owners of the back garden in which they are situated have purchased the rear part of the neighbouring back gardens - is it called landgrabbing? - and now have planning permission to build several large houses. I was under the impression that these trees had a preservation order upon them, I telephoned the council planning department while the workmen were doing their job - in order to try to save these beautiful trees. The reply was that
'the tree department aren't in today'.
So 24 hours later....
They were gone.
These are three beautiful black poplar trees which have been a feature of my veggie plot for at least the last 30 years. The trees themselves must have been at least 60 or 70 years old. The local blackbirds and thrushes sit on the highest branch and their song carries for miles. On quiet Summer days you can just listen to the sound of the wind in the trees. Wonderful!
They have been well maintained over the years with skillful tree surgery, pollarded every few years..until now. 
The current owners of the back garden in which they are situated have purchased the rear part of the neighbouring back gardens - is it called landgrabbing? - and now have planning permission to build several large houses. I was under the impression that these trees had a preservation order upon them, I telephoned the council planning department while the workmen were doing their job - in order to try to save these beautiful trees. The reply was that 'the tree department aren't in today'.
So 24 hours later....
They were gone.