COUNCIL PLANNING DECISION COULD PUT NESTING SONGBIRDS AT RISK

                                                                                                         

Greenfinch - a species that likes to nest in conifers

A DECISION by North East Lincolnshire to allow felling of six conifer trees in a Grimsby garden could be to the cost of nesting songbirds.

The authority has this week given the planning green light to an application for removal of the trees in the garden at  51 Park Drive in the town's Wellow conservation area.

The officer, Clive Tritton, made his decision after taking advice from the council's trees officer, Paul Chaplin, whose report stated: "The trees  have outgrown their location. 

"Although the Wellow conservation area is characterised by its tree cover, these specimens do not contribute to its  character and/ or ambience."

However, he omitted to include a proviso that the trees should remain in situ at least until mid-September by when the nesting season will probably be over.

Although the trees, Leylandii,  are reckoned by some to be  of limited aesthetic or ecological value, they are frequently chosen as nesting habitat by such species as blackbirds, greenfinches, goldfinches, chaffinches, dunnocks and goldcrests - all important contributors to the dawn chorus.

Permission has also been granted for  cherry tree in the same garden to be felled should the householder choose to do so in future.

The planning consent includes no requirement for biodiversity enhancement to compensate for the loss of the trees.

The Grimsby News says: Given the time of year, this is a regrettable decision by NELC. The trees may be of little obvious  amenity value to the neighbourhood, but it is almost certain that, at this time of year, they will contain the nests of songbirds. The officers should have been aware of this and included an appropriate assessment before reaching a decision. It can only be hoped, now, that the applicant will reflect kindly on the fate of any nesting birds - and their eggs and chicks - before authorising a tree surgeon to carry out the works.