Friends of Falmouth, did you love the powerful, gentle Eucalytpus tree at the corner of Arwenack Avenue & Avenue Road (near the train station)? 

It has been felled (along with others) under redevelopment of the land it was living on. Planning application: https://planning.cornwall.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=TAG5EVFGKYY00

It was deemed 'a poor allocation of limited resources' to take less drastic measures such as crown reduction (meaning removal of any branches deemed to cause a risk). However, the tree had survived several recent storms - and anyway that's a very feeble definition of 'resources'. Urban trees ARE resources. They enhance peoples' health and wellbeing, mitigate rising urban heat problems, capture carbon, and provide and connect habitat for other urban wildlife.

The tree surveyor has strongly recommended planting a replacement tree due to loss of urban canopy cover and ecological & amenity value, but there's no legal obligation - despite it being in a Conservation Area. Please add your signature below to ensure the council and developer get suitable replacements planted and managed asap in our busy, loved town.

The tree should have been managed whilst replacements grew alongside. This powerful, gentle creature was not a threat to be removed — it was a valued member of our community.