Save Springfield Road, Brighton trees!

Dear all A brief update on the Springfield Road tree campaign. We have met with the Council Arboriculturalist who confirmed that the survey of trees requiring protection and or replacement will take place in the near future and those sites for replanting will be protected. He also informed us that the area is in Tree Planting Zone Three which is scheduled for 2019/20. This came as a surprise as we, and our councillors, had been led to believe that if the trees were privately funded the work would not be subject to the Council’s planting timetable. We find this very disappointing and frustrating and are currently trying to clarify the situation. We are hoping to set up another meeting with Council officers and will report again as soon as we have any further information. All the best… The Save the Trees Team

Many thanks once again to all those who donated to our campaign to preserve, protect and replace Springfield Road trees. It was a marvellous effort and no doubt those involved are wondering what happens now - so here is an update. Since our crowdfunding campaign successfully closed we have been in close contact with the Council's arboriculturalists who are checking which trees already need to be replaced, and assessing which trees are in danger. These sites once formally identified will therefore be preserved, we are assured, even if it takes a long while before actual replacement happens. The process will however be slow, as dead tree sites need in due course to be 'ground out' and we are told ordering trees happens at least a year in advance. For each site we will make the financial contribution from the funds raised as planned. It is possible we may see some replanting next spring, we are hoping for that, and certainly no later than the season after. Looking longer term there has been much discussion about protecting our new trees when they arrive. All ideas are welcome, and Councillor Littman and residents are in discussion about how best to make sure saplings are not damaged by vehicles. All ideas are welcome. When more is known, it will be posted as a further update on this site. Thank you once again to everyone who supported this.