I have started this petition in order to show the council that there is not only me that is concerned about the red listed sparrows that live in sparrow tree, and to persuade them to reconsider their decision to remove it. 
Sparrow tree sits at the the of my garden on council land and has done for over the last 23 years… since we moved in and even longer. The birds sit in the tree from dawn until dusk, they nest in it, hide from predators, roost in it and I have recently noticed they also feed of the seeds. 
Barnsley council decided to develop the land for 35 homes (private sale/rent, social rent) and at the initial consultation over 2 years ago I explained about the tree and asked for it to be retained, to preserve the home of the sparrows. The have removed every other tree on site except a small strip of hedgerow at the other side of site. 
The tree sits at the very end of a back garden plot for a social rented bungalow, I have asked the council if the tree can be fenced off and retained, and I will take care of it to prevent the burden of the tree being placed on anyone else.
There is a hawthorn tree and it has a vine growing through it which has made it really dense, which is why the birds use it so much. It’s perfect habitat to hide /nest in for them and without it, the birds will have no other cover like it in this area. It is their home. House sparrow populations have been in decline for some time now and part reason for this is because their favoured habitats have kept on being destroyed. This is exactly what Barnsley council will do here too and I am determined to protect these birds, and their home. 
Yesterday the contractors came for the second time to cut it down and I sat in it to prevent it being felled. 
I also put in a complaint to the council about their decision to remove the tree and I now await a response, which has bought some time- days at most. 
Please sign this petition if you support my fight and you too would like to see Barnsley council save sparrow tree. 
Thank you for reading, and signing it is very much appreciated. 
Rachel Stewart