Belfast's Phantom Planter has hit out after trees they placed and were caring for at two city parks were removed.
The self-described ‘paramilitree’ and his ‘leaftenants’ are aiming to plant one million trees right across Northern Ireland, Ireland and the UK.
But their plan to add some new trees to Botanic Gardens and Lower Crescent Park has taken a hit after the horse chestnut and weeping birch they planted were removed.
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The Phantom Planter told us the weeping birch was grown from a sapling by a local boy who hoped to sit under it in future with his dad.
He added: “It really annoyed me to be honest with you. One of them was a weeping birch tree that this kid had reared in his back garden for a couple of years.
“He’s in France with his parents on holiday but I am sure he will be upset about it. It was a lovely wee tree and it would have looked lovely in the park over the years.
“The kid said ‘I can’t wait to come back with my daddy and sit under this tree' whenever we were planting it’.”
The Phantom Planter says the trees were planted in both parks last Sunday and when he went back to water them on Sunday night just passed, they had been dug out and replaced with soil and grass seed.
“They were properly positioned and properly planted and we cut around them and water them so I don’t really see what the problem is,” he added.
“I try to blend them in as professionally as possible as I have been planting trees for a long time.
“ Belfast City Council had done a post too the other day bumming and blowing about how much they love to look after trees in their parks. I think they were having a laugh.
“I’m really saddened by all this to be honest. My new little ‘Leaftenant’ will be devastated - not a good impression for the kids how our local council has treated our trees.
“I put a post out to say we had planted them. To take them out the way they did is not right. They have done this in another Belfast City Council run park also where they removed three memorial apple trees which were not in the way of anyone.
“More and more trees just seem to be getting cut down.”
Council confirmed the trees were removed by their staff, that they have been potted and stored and can be collected.
Belfast City Council itself is aiming to plant one million trees across the city and recently launched its own tree strategy.
They have appointed Treeconomics to help them write it and are now seeking views from the public through a survey that is open until August 27 with a draft plan expected in September.
A council spokesperson said: "Council is working with our city partners to plant one million native trees by 2035 as part of our commitment to supporting climate adaptation across Belfast. To-date, 63,500 trees have been planted.
"Planting trees within our parks is carefully planned and managed under our Belfast Tree Strategy, in order for us to balance both biodiversity and essential maintenance considerations.
"While we applaud the efforts of residents in planting new trees, and are keen to work with local communities in planting initiatives to support our One Million Tress ambitions, we do not encourage individuals to plant trees in our parks without discussing this with our staff in the first instance.
"Businesses, schools or community groups interested in getting involved in the One Million Tress project can get in touch by emailing resilient@belfastcity.gov.uk.”
You can take part in the tree survey at https://yoursay.belfastcity.gov.uk/belfast-tree-strategy.
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