UK: Cutting down the forest to create a playground for an “eco-school”

Residents of Kidmore End have hit out at the village primary school
for destroying 17 trees to make way for an all-weather playground.
“The school is applying for eco-school status but it is cutting down
trees. What sort of a message is that sending out to the children?”

John Lawrie, 68, of Chalkhouse Green Road, is upset at the development
of the land where mature trees have been felled. He said: “There were
four trees at the back of my house which, as well as stopping some of
the noise from the school, provided a nice view. In a letter to South
Oxfordshire District Council, neighbour Simon O’Reilly said: “While I
understand the desire of the governors to enhance the facilities of
the school, this has to be achieved by carefully balancing the
environment and the immediate community. “The proposal suggests the
removal of certain trees. These trees should be protected. The lime
trees would act as a visual screen to the scheme, assist in the hiding
of the obtrusive fence and be a noise and sound barrier for the
benefit of my property. “The thinning and removal of well-established
trees should be prevented at all costs and the construction of a fence
will make the structure very obtrusive and not in keeping with the
area.” Headteacher Janet Maul believes the needs of the children
should come first. It is the children’s interests that come first and
foremost for everyone involved in the management of the school. “The
all-weather playground has been funded in part by a significant grant
from the Department for Children, Schools and Families with the
balance coming from the school’s own resources. Part of the DCSF’s
eco-schools initiative relates to the use, development and management
of school grounds. In building the playground we are fulfilling the
relevant objectives for an eco-school.
http://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/news.php?id=530919

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from Deane’s posterous