does Devonshire not like trees?

What does your local council say? You wouldn’t think they would be allowed to do that without permission or a permit. Mind you, builders here often break the law and pay the fine because, financially, it is worth it for them.

The felling of the trees in Torquay has caused great concern amongst locals. It now emerges that the contract for the work went to Swisco. Four of their managers are also councillors……🙄

This from a local social media page in Torquay:-

“Swizzco (sic) have taken full responsibility for the destruction of the Italian gardens. They did not tell anyone because they did not have to. Four of the swizz managers are councillors and kept quiet about it. Four of the councillors are managers of swizz, I say again in case it is not sinking in. they are a plc company owned by torbay council. Accountability? There will be an internal investigation to be made public at some point. At least one of the councillors lives on an unadopted road yet gets full services from torbay council and all other residents get the benefit they are not entitled to nor pay for. Come on Foster, (our MP) tell us you knew nothing about it once again..........”

Disgraceful.

Right, seeing as I have lived here 40 years on and off and drive through Colaton Raleigh every day to DD's, we do know all about our trees in Devon. There has just been a massive restoration project completed (featured on tv, EU finding, Chris Packham involved etc) in the area. It was carried out with extensive research and ran alongside a similar project in Northern France. Trees and wildlife were only disturbed if really necessary not for aesthetic purposes. Some of the trees on nearby Muttersmoor have also been felled due to a certain disease problem.
Oh and by the way, Coltaon Raleigh is not in South Devon. We here would take exception to that comment.

I lament the unnecessary or random felling of trees anywhere - Sycamore Gap is a recent and much publicised example - and where they are cleared simply for the ease of developers.
But is this the case here?

(And incidentally, other than reference to the Duke and Duchess of, don’t we refer to the county as Devon? At least outside of a JaneAusten novel?)

I think the name of the county is down to personal taste RosiesMaw though Devon, the shorter version, is certainly more modern and more widely used. (And easier for us backward peasants?!)
I have a green Devon sticker on the back of my car. As I spend a 1/4 of my year in Brittany I like them over there to accept me fully!

I can't remember who with exactly, but it is said that Jane Austen fell madly in love with a gentleman in Sidmouth, East Devon.

I think Devon is one of the old original Shire counties, but Devonshire is officially known as Devon now. Whichever, it's a lovely county.
As an ex-Torquay resident for 50 years, I was appalled to read about the felling of trees. Hopefully a project to plant many more is underway.

Ashcombe thank you, this further revelation has made me very angry.

Seeing the destruction of the trees in Armada Way, Plymouth, was horrifying, then what happened in Torquay added to the anger.

I didn't know about the tree felling in Colaton Raleigh but woodland and forests do need constant maintenance and vigilance.

I remember Exeter University has a Devonshire House.

Joseann
ref Colaton Raleigh,sorry if I have upset you but if I had just put Colaton Raleigh.
Very few would know where it was,by the way
don't we have Barnstaple/Ilfracombe in North Devon?
Devonshire tea?
I think you should show more interest in the story,rather that the location.

What exactly is the story? A link would be helpful to those of us who live nowhere near Devon(shire).

I have a photo of me aged about 6 I think in a kilt stood by the side of the palms in Torquay.

SIL and BIL live in Devon and are blissfully surrounded by thousands of trees.

Farmers always grub out trees on their land ( think Sycamore Gap) and they do the same in Devon and am guessing there are many farmers there.

www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/gallery/torquay-palm-tree-felling-enrages-8969801

This link shows a picture of the drastic felling which has taken place.

I was in Plymouth soon after those trees were felled in Armada Way. It was a very sorry sight. We are assured something wonderful is coming to replace them. Let's hope so.

I think you should show more interest in the story, rather that the location.
I am extremely interested in the story. I showed interest in the fact that the location was wrongly reported, I know exactly where it is. I showed dismay that your title assumed we, as Devonians, don't care about our trees in Devon. I am right behind all those taking about the terrible loss of trees in Plymouth and Torquay, carried out by stealth overnight I believe? Anyway, I think you'll find that the Colaton Raleigh issue is rather different. It is private farmland. There weren't thousands of responses to petitions to stop the trees being felled because there was little communication in the community. If you'd like to provide readers with more accurate info then it might be interesting to compare the differences.

Trees wiped out and the next thing you know a developer submits a planning application. And we all know how "newbuilds" are notorious for the poor quality of workmanship.

rubysong

I was in Plymouth soon after those trees were felled in Armada Way. It was a very sorry sight. We are assured something wonderful is coming to replace them. Let's hope so.

I used to work just near there.

It made me sad and angry, rubysong

Interested in finding out more about the TV feature/Chris Packham support @Joseann can you post more details?
Thanks

What would Sir Walter say? I received my degree certificate at Exeter University from the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire - the last ones she did. I buy Double Devonshire and Red Devonshire cheese from Mary Quicke. I do know it as East Devon and not East Devonshire. Often Devon is no longer used on mail, just the postal code town or city such as Exeter.

Is there more info on this tree felling or has it been blown out of proportion after the awful felling in Torquay and Plymouth.

Here's the story from the Guardian last month:

It looks like a senseless felling of old, but sound, trees. If they were truly boundering heathland, as the article says then felling them would serve no agricultural purpose. But the landowner and the Forestry Commission which approved the felling are not saying anything...

Perhaps Joseann knows more?

www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/21/colaton-raleigh-devon-village-shock-felling-100-ancient-beech-trees?share=linkedin

Thanks MaizieD. It doesn’t tell us why and somebody should be accountable. If there’s a good reason we should know what it is. If there isn’t the perpetrators should hang their heads in shame and have a massive fine. Here my neighbour in the conservation area can’t even cut an overhanging branch without planning consent which the whole community can see and object to if they want.