I?D just like to let Margaret G Lury (Letters May 8) know that no, she is not the only one to deplore the felling of so many ?diseased trees? around Tavistock.

As she made her points so well I would only add: surely a cemetery full of the dead is the most suitable place for trees to grow and be left alone. After all, many people now choose to be buried underneath them.

I walked through Dolvin Road cemetery for the first time recently and was overawed by the beauty of these trees, which have been left alone to develop as trees should.

We have a symbiotic relationship, trees and humans and are equally important to each other. Yet we can decide their fate. Certain powers that be seem more and more ready to do so, thus ensuring they can never decide ours.

Every day a new reason to get rid of a tree is added to the list.

Euthanasia for trees seems to be with us. What?s next? Well, they all need planning permission! And will we need insurance to climb them or walk in the woods?

Mary Toon

Gulls? Cry

Courtenay Road

Tavistock

MY reply to Mrs Lury (Letters May 8) is this ? how would she feel if someone dear to her was killed by a branch falling from some ancient tree as happened in London to a 12-year-old boy recently? He was felled by a branch from an ancient oak.

Trees, like people, have a limited life span and must make way for new life. Tavistock has far too many neglected trees and I commend the good sense of our environmental officer Mr Chapman who is tackling the problem.

When the Hedge Bill is in force more of these trees will feel the chop and I say good riddance ? let there be light!

Lucy Smith

Lang Grove,

Down Park Drive

Tavistock

I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with Margaret Lury?s letter over concern for felling mature trees in Tavistock.

It is not possible to eliminate liability of trees causing accidents or indeed anything else. Therefore, we should not rush into cutting down mature trees, simply because in someone?s opinion they may at some time pose a potential hazard.

We are fortunate in Tavistock that in the past people have had the foresight to plant specimen trees, from which we now get the benefit.

It is so easy to destroy something, but not so easy to create something.

During the last 50 years in this country, we have lost many millions of trees and thousands of miles of hedgerows, with a devastating loss of natural habitat for wildlife. Private gardens, public gardens and cemeteries play an important part in conservation, and Devon is still one of the best areas in this country for wildlife. Let us keep it this way.

John B Ladlow

(Retired Estate Manager)

Woodovis Cottages

Gulworthy

THE threat to destroy so many of the trees in Dolvin Road cemetery is nothing but wanton vandalism. Anyone with the merest touch of poetry in their soul will recognise the beauty of those trees. Not just in the seasonal changes but the minute by minute alteration of colour and shade and texture.

It is a privilege to be able to observe them on a daily basis. They present no danger whatsoever to anyone.

If councillors had bothered to consult the residents of Dolvin Road they would have discovered that visitors to the cemetery are extremely rare.

This peaceful sanctuary is an undoubted asset to the town. It should be allowed to grow old gracefully.

Charles and Sandra Beamish

24 Dolvin Road

Tavistock

IF so many of Tavistock?s trees must be felled because of accident potential, should not cars be taken off the road? They cause many more accidents than trees!

Jacqui Fogwill

Chapel Street

Tavistock