LETTER: Time for Mayo County Council to appoint an arborculturist

Sir,

I WOULD like to draw attention to a terrible mistake that is being perpetrated against the town of Castlebar and county of Mayo.

I am referring to the wanton destruction of trees by people with chainsaws who seem intent on the removal of a lot of trees around the place.

I don't know who is authorising this awful wrong that is being visited on all of us.

We need trees so badly and the time has come when an arborculturist (not a tree surgeon) must be appointed by Mayo County Council to oversee the felling of our trees. Lately, trees are being felled in a willy nilly fashion all over the county.

When one asks why the trees are being felled, you are told they are dangerous. Who said? Who is the expert that is allowing this to happen?

Surely not an engineer, who would not have the qualification to judge what trees should be cut down.

A qualified arborculturist is the only one qualified to judge the merits and life of a tree.

As one who has had a lifelong interest in trees and who has planted a great number of trees, it saddens me to see the destruction of such a valuable part of our necessary wildlife and flora and fauna.

At a time where there is such interest in our biodiversity, it is time for people to stand up against this destruction.

I remember some years ago when I discovered a specimen chestnut tree growing on a private estate locally.

Some years afterwards I went again to photograph the tree only to find it had been vandalised. Some fool with a chain saw had felled this specimen. Not only had he cut down the tree but he left it in a heap to decay. It could only be described as vandalism.

We must have reached a time in our county when planning permission should be sought for the removal of such valuable assets that should be preserved for generations to come.

Yours and very concerned,

Aidan T. Brett, Garryduff, Castlebar.