Edinburgh residents have been left furious after flowers that were planted below several rows of trees were dug up by the council and replaced with resin.
Locals in Marchmont planted dozens of environmentally-friendly plants in the vacant patches of earth after the council planted rows of trees on Warrender Park Road and the surrounding area at the end of last year.
After several people becoming involved in brightening up the area with bee-friendly flowers, last week, the council came along and started digging up the plants, replacing them with resin.
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Although it is understood that the residents did not seek permission before planting their own flowers, they got in contact with several councillors who attempted to halt the work to remove them.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, one resident involved in the planting of the flowers, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: "The council planted lots of trees all the way along Warrender Park Road around November 2021 and at the bottom of each tree, was vacant areas of earth.
"There was no indication if they were going to use that to plant anything else and after months of no further information or movement, various residents planted environmentally-friendly plants below the trees to make the area look nicer.
"It wasn't something that we coordinated with each other to do, people just came out and planted them off their own accord.
"They were also bee-friendly and would form a relationship with the trees, some were wild flowers as well so you're not meant to dig them up.
"There were around half a dozen people that planted or were planning on planting their own flowers."
After what seemed like a positive and community-driven project, it was cut-short on Saturday, May 21, when contractors arrived and started digging up the flowers, but keeping the trees.
Day by day, a new row of flowers in the surrounding area were removed, with residents asking local councillors to step in and ask for the removal to be stopped immediately.
The resident continued: "On Saturday, worked began on the trees at Whitehouse Loan, working towards Marchmont Road. On Monday and Tuesday, they dug up the flowers along Marchmont Street, working towards Spottiswood Street. Yesterday (Wednesday) they then dug up those on Marchmont Road.
"When it started on Saturday, residents, including myself, contacted several councillors and they got back to us saying that the work would be stopped.
"However, contractors continued the work and now, more or less all of them have been removed. It was just an initiative to support the environment and wildlife, the plants would have supported the trees and it was a clear drive for community pride.
"This has been taken away by the council. People waited several months after the trees had been planted before going ahead with this and we're only now seeing just how many people got involved.
"Some of the plants that were dug up were given back to residents, but not everyone has the room to grow their own, that's why this idea was thought of and so beneficial."
The City of Edinburgh Council have been contacted for comment.
