Headteacher says felling trees is part of improvements after campaigner says he’s horrified

A Horncastle school has defended felling more than half a dozen mature trees in an operation a local environmentalist has described as ‘scandalous.’
All that remains of two of the trees felled which has led to the school producing a detailed response.All that remains of two of the trees felled which has led to the school producing a detailed response.
All that remains of two of the trees felled which has led to the school producing a detailed response.

Jonathan Lincoln says he - and several other residents - were ‘angry and horrified’ to discover workmen felling the trees at St Lawrence School in Bowl Alley Lane.

However, the school - which caters for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) - has revealed the trees were taken down as part of a major investment and expansion plan.

Lea Mason, Executive Head, also confirmed three of the trees were diseased and would have had to be felled regardless while none had protection orders on them.

She said: “Horncastle St Lawrence School is part of the exciting £50m package of investment to improve support for children with SEND.

“Facilities for local children and young people with SEND will be greatly enhanced, ensuring they can be educated in their local communities.

“Early works required the removal of a small number of trees to allow the school site to be expanded.

“None were subject to a protection order and three were found to be diseased and would need to have been removed regardless.

“The works have been carried out at this time in order to minimise the impact on local wildlife.

“We realise that some people will be disappointed to see the trees go, despite the significant improvements this will enable at the school.

“We are working with the contractor on a replanting scheme, which will be detailed in the planning application for the main works.

“As an ECO school we at St Lawrence, as part of the wider Lincolnshire Wolds Community Trust, continually ensure our students and young people, are developing their environmental understanding, through our curriculum offer, and with due regard to the area within which we all live.

“The developments the project will bring to our school will significantly develop the provision we can offer.

“This will include the future focused enhancement of our outdoor learning environment, within a robust, ongoing re-planting scheme.”

Mr Lincoln told the News: “I walked by those trees every day. When I saw them being felled, I pointed out to a staff member that it was not setting a good example to children - especially at a time when there is a worldwide focus on environmental issues.

“Eight or nine trees were chopped down... massacred.

“She (the staff member)told me the trees would be replaced, but it takes newly planted trees at least 50 years to grow to the size of the ones cut down.

“It is scandalous something like this can happen. Where there were once beautiful trees, there are now just ugly stumps.

“It’s important to remember the impact the loss of any trees has on the environment - the quality of the air we all have to breathe.

Trees help reduce Co2 emissions and everyone is aware of all the traffic issues on Bowl Alley Lane.”

Ironically, the tree felling comes as Mr Lincoln helped launch a new campaign group called ‘Horncastle Climate Action’. The group’s first activity was to plant 200 trees at Bain Valley Park and another 10 trees at Thomas Gibson Drive.

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