A tree planted by Belfast’s first woman mayor is among four being chopped down next week despite efforts to save them.
Belfast Live met campaigners hoping to save the trees and others along the river from Department for Infrastructure contractors this week.
They feared DfI culture was to remove any trees in their way rather than looking for ways to work around them and called on infrastructure bosses to find another way.
But we understand Nichola Mallon has now approved the felling of at least four more trees and hedging near Governors Bridge in Stranmillis.
South Belfast resident Colin Shaw has been campaigning to save them since a row of 13 trees were lost around January 10.
A statement we've seen from DfI Rivers reads: "The current proposal has been confirmed as the optimum solution... Unfortunately this solution requires the removal and replacement of four mature trees with further protective measures recommended by the arboriculturalist for come of the remaining trees."
Colin told us locals first learned of the work by a leaflet through their door on the Belfast Tidal Flood Alleviation Scheme on a Friday in early January, saying some vegetation will be removed.
“On Monday morning the woodchippers and the tree removal people came and by Wednesday a line of 90-year-old trees, 13 beautiful sycamores, had been fed into a woodchipper,” he added.
“That was a big shock to a lot of people, particularly to a little girl called Mollie Rose for whom this was a very special place. She talked about it like a fairy landscape.
“That might sound trite or silly but if we can’t imagine how shocking this was to a 10-year-old then I think we’ve perhaps lost a connection with nature. All our efforts since have been to ask why those trees were removed? Could they have been saved? Are more to be removed [and] is it absolutely essential that they be removed?”
Colin says locals support the flood scheme to protect nearby homes, but questioned whether DfI just cuts down anything in their way before looking at a way to save it.
“We have the feeling that DfI work in a sort of culture that if a tree is in any way in the way, then they use presumptive removal and that seems to the wrong policy in the context of a biodiversity crisis and climate emergency," he said earlier this week.
“The irony being of course that this whole removal of trees is for the tidal flood alleviation wall, which is being put up because of climate change. Nobody is anti-wall but we are also pro-trees. If the engineers can’t come up with a way of meeting those two imperatives then we are going to need a different approach.”
Mollie Rose’s mum, Olivia McCartan, said it was very hard to explain to her daughter why the trees were axed.
“She know’s that I have been out protesting to save the other fours trees and she doesn’t want to see any more trees going down,” added the South Belfast woman.
Olivia said her daughter was so upset when the first trees were lost “she put up a ribbon to show her support and loss for the trees”.
“She said she’s the voice of the trees because they don’t have a voice - that’s why I’m here, for her and future generations.”
Local resident, Ellen Shultz, has also been “taking a stand” against the felling plans. She said: “I am really very heartened by the amount of people who’ve got on board with this.
“A lot of people are stopping us here as well, beeping their horns and communicating. Public awareness is the first thing - making everybody aware of what’s going on. People genuinely want to do something and we really truly believe that there is another way - there has to be another way.
“Sometimes trees do have to come down or they need to be pruned but this wholesale carnage of the trees - we’ve got reason to believe it’s not necessary.”
Speaking about the standoff on Monday when protesters were fenced in following 'a bit of a standoff with the guys with the diggers' she said it was discovered “there’s water pipe” which cast doubt on the placement of the wall.
A Department for Infrastructure spokesperson told us: “The presence of this culvert will not alter the route of the flood wall at this location and trees within the vicinity of this culvert have not yet been removed.”
After learning the trees will be lost, Mr Shaw said: "Some of the group are incandescent. For my part, DfI did provide a detailed report. Rerouting may result in more trees coming down.
"I think the initial phase and the way the first trees were felled made it difficult to trust. They did some catching up but it's a harsh project with no EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment)."
DfI said they’ve been “liaising with an independent arboriculturist to ascertain their expert advice” and notified Belfast City Council that one of the four trees earmarked for felling had been planted by Belfast’s first lady mayor, Grace Bannister.
“If it is necessary to remove this tree to facilitate the construction of the flood wall then it is intended that one of the replacement trees to be planted as part of this project is sited close to this location and dedicated to the former Lord Mayor,” they added.
“There are currently two sites within the Lockview Stranmillis area where it has been identified that trees may need to be removed at this time ahead of the bird nesting season. It is currently anticipated that despite efforts to retain as many trees as possible six trees may need to be removed to facilitate the construction of the flood defences in these sites.”
The flood alleviation scheme is intended to reduce the tidal flood risk to over 1,500 homes and businesses in Belfast.
Video: Harry Bateman
