Mature 10-metre trees suddenly ‘savaged’ in middle of no-felling season

A retiree has been left dismayed by the ‘brutal’ way mature trees were suddenly cut down around a healthcare center.

Peter Colmer, of Bramley Gardens in Coxheath, said the ‘brutal and blatant’ removal took place in the middle of the no-tree and hedge-cutting season, which is designed to protect nesting wildlife.

Hedgerow management rules do have exemptions, but the 77-year-old said the contractor had ‘obliterated’ the whole area, reducing 10-meter trees to two meters.

Peter says no notice was given, adding: ‘This decimation has completely changed the nature of the road far more than any effect from seeing innocuous solar panels.’

The sudden removal comes after homeowners received a notice about the intention to install solar panels on the roof of The Heathside center in Heath Road, Coxheath.

A spokesperson for the Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust said the tree work was not related to the installation of solar panels but had been carried out after advice about ‘overhanging vegetation’ impacting the ‘public highway’.

Peter said: ‘These large trees have been savaged right in the middle of bird nesting season and clearly nobody cares.

‘I am surprised the contractor took on the job bearing in mind those restrictions.

‘The fence was barely visible before but now, as you see, parts of it are at a jaunty angle. I guess the trees were holding it up to an extent.

‘I think any kind of gale would probably see it at least partly on the ground. We will now be exposed to the glare of external and internal bright lights which are on for no apparent reason 24/7.

‘It looks like a war zone out there.’

Also nearby is Coxheath Library, but a Kent County Council (KCC) spokesperson confirmed the work had not been carried out by the authority.

They said: ‘We are only responsible for the vegetation around the library, which has not been impacted by the works.’

Meanwhile, the Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust said it understood concerns raised by people living in the area and recognized how much trees, wildlife and green spaces meant to the community.

A spokesperson said: ‘The work at Heathside center was not related to the installation of solar panels. It was carried out following advice about overhanging vegetation affecting the public highway and recommendations from an independent tree survey.

‘We are committed to maintaining a safe environment for patients, staff, visitors and the wider community, while continuing to balance this with our environmental responsibilities.’