SEVERAL cherry trees in the affluent suburb of Morningside have been felled by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Forestry Service.
Seven trees, which line the residential Braid Avenue, have been described as either dead or defective by a council spokesperson and will all be replanted.
The council’s Forestry Service undertakes routine monitoring of trees in the city and often decide to remove dead or defective trees.
Residents of Braid Avenue expressed their anger at the fellings, claiming that the trees contribute to the natural beauty of the area, and constitute a crucial part of the road’s historic character.
Woodchippers and other pieces of forestry equipment arrived on the scene yesterday on Braid Avenue (C) Jane Brown / Facebook
During spring, Braid Avenue, like many of the roads in Morningside, sprouts a canopy of pink cherry blossom from the unique trees lining the avenue.
The trees are one of the defining features of Braid Avenue, and Morningside at large.
The forestry service arrived yesterday with forestry equipment and woodchippers and cut down seven trees along the road.
Not all the trees along the route are cherry trees, however, and the council did not specify the species of the trees chopped down.
A council spokesperson said that seven “dead or defective” trees had been felled along Braid Avenue after routine monitoring.
They added that all of the trees will be replanted.
The cherry trees, along with the other species along Braid Avenue are a recognisable feature in Morningside (C) Jane Brown / Facebook
Following the visit by the forestry team, one Morningside resident expressed her anger at the removal of the trees on a local Facebook group.
She wrote: “This morning, several cherry trees on Braid Avenue were felled by Edinburgh Council.
“There appears to be no publicly available information on whether these trees will be replaced, when any replanting might take place, or what species would be used.
“These cherry trees were an important part of the street’s character and local environment in a conservation area.
“It is disappointing that Morningside residents have not been given clarity in advance or afterwards.
“It would be helpful for the council to confirm the reasons for the tree removal and to provide transparent information on any plans for replacement planting.”
Other locals, however, pointed out that many of the trees along the route had fallen over or were otherwise damaged.
There are long-delayed roadworks scheduled to begin later this year to add segregated cycle lanes to Braid Avenue, but the council said that the removal of the trees is entirely unrelated.
It is unclear when the trees will be replanted.
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