Hilary Burrage

It really is not as simple as 'trees good; removing trees bad'.

The one you illustrate is on an island which is to be restored.

But I understand something of a campaign has started up to save every tree, including the alders which have self-seeded in the banks of the watercourses.

The restoration of the watercourses is one of the most important and exciting components of the Lottery-funded resotation project, and won't be able to happen unless these trees are removed.

Jean - I gather there is a view that the tree must go because there used to be a fountain there; but surely the fountain could go somewhere else close-by? (Or indeed in another suitable spot - is history everything?) Is my information correct?

I'd entirely agree by the way that some of the self-seeders must indeed be removed, but I hope not this particular willow!

The whole thing centres on how much people are told / asked, and when.

It seems the Council now plan to hold two consultative walks in the Park. (You may have seen notices which they've put up in the Park about it, inviting park users to join the consultation.) These walks are to be in the last week of August or the first week of September; final dates not yet fixed.

The Council's notices ask Park users to ring 0151 225 4877 and give their contact details. This will be an important point in the consultation, as there are of course quite a few issues still to resolve, both in respect of the trees to stay / go, and about whether to keep the railings and other issues.

Best of luck as ever with the improvement project.

PS I'm delighted to see that the current campaign acknowledges how important people's views were in keeping the cherry trees in place! (See 'Cherry Picking Liverpool's Sefton Park Agenda', 17 Oct. 2005, on this website.)