Anger as Bristol City Council fells Downs elm tree

One of the last large Wych Elm trees on the Downs in Bristol has been felled.

The tree, also known as a Huntington Elm, used to stand along Ladies Mile and was cut down by the city council this week.

Members of pressure group Bristol Downs Watch, which opposes plans to redesign the landscape of the Avon Gorge and Downs, say they are outraged by the move and believe the tree was felled on health and safety grounds.

The council says the tree was diseased.

"The council claims that the tree had Dutch Elm disease but there was no obvious sign of die-back on the leaves this summer," said Roger Yates, who leads Downs Watch.

"If the tree had died there would then be a reason to cut it down.

"This is yet another example of health and safety gone mad.

"The more so because elm trees can resist and recover from some measure of Dutch Elm Disease.

"It is highly disputable that this tree was a danger and was about to fall."

Fellow Downs Watch member Dr John Maher said: "This Wych Elm dates back over a 150 years to before the Downs were given to the people of Bristol – I have counted the tree rings.

"A historic tree such as this should not be removed on spurious health and safety grounds."

Bristol City Council said: "The Huntingdon's Elm had Dutch Elm disease and it had to come down or the single remaining elm on the Downs would certainly have become diseased.

"Sadly, there are only now only three Huntingdon's Elms left in our city following the onslaught of Dutch Elm disease, which has destroyed the vast majority of these beautiful trees throughout the UK.

"The good news is that a new disease-resistant elm is now available, which the council is already planting.

"These can be seen at Whitefriars in the centre, St George's Park and the Downs, as well as one or two other sites in the city."