A NATURE-LOVER has said she will chain herself to trees in what was once a ‘secret garden’ to stop a developer from tearing them down.
Patricia Jones and her neighbours were devastated when they heard land owner, Adam Palmer, was planning to fell around 15 trees to make way for a new home.
The trees, which Patricia believes to be around 150-190 years old, are not currently subject to a Tree Preservation Order, which would prevent the trees from being felled or uprooted without permission from the Council.
The mother of six said an application for the Order to Solihull Council in May but until she contacted Councillor Peter Hogarth this week had not received any information regarding the application status.
Coun Hogarth paid a visit to Patricia and she showed him the trees which he told the Observer ‘look to me to be fine specimens’ and he has requested a site visit with officers this week.
Patricia said the land where the trees stand was owned by a lady who lived on Wherretts Well Lane who referred to the space as her secret garden.
When the lady died the house and the land were sold off separately.
On Monday, July 19, Patricia woke to news the tree surgeons had arrived with chainsaws and trucks ready to fell the trees.
Within minutes she had jumped out of bed and over the fence and was face-to-face with the tree surgeons saying she wouldn’t allow them to cut down the trees.
Patricia said: “These trees have taken years and years to grow and are home to wildlife.
“Every night I hear the birds chattering as they settle down for the night and sing when they wake up in the morning.
“To simply cut down the trees to make way for a home is disgusting.
“It is also nesting season until August so they shouldn’t be cutting the trees down.
“I will fight to save them – I will cancel appointments at my hair salon, I will even chain myself to the trees and sleep there if I have to.”
The RSPB advises against hedge cutting during the main breeding season for nesting birds, which usually runs throughout March to August each year to protect them.
Mr Palmer declined to comment when The Observer contacted him.
