Renewed Calls For Better Protection Of Trees 

Calls have intensified for law changes to protect mature trees from being cut down, after privately-owned woodland near d'Auvergne school was felled.

No planning permission is required to remove trees on private land unless an individual tree is on the list of protected trees.

The current law has been called 'quite inadequate' by Jersey Trees for Life, and the Environment Minister says work to draft a new one has been delayed because of a lack of department resources.

Sheena Brockie posted pictures of the bare land and tree stumps in St Helier - writing on Facebook that she felt 'sick to her stomach'.

She's told Channel 103 that talks are ongoing as to how to stop this, if the law won't change for at least another year;

"I'm not one just to whinge on Facebook, and then do nothing about it.  I'm speaking to people behind the scenes, and I know there is already other conversations going on.  There has to be different way.  It needs people who are concerned about to get together and say 'what is the different way?'  We have to think about alternatives and present them."

We absolutely want this to stop, but how to do we get this to stop - we can't wait another year.

We have declared a climate emergency. We need to deal with it. "

Channel 103 previously reported on the calls for better protection in December 2019 when the Constable of St Brelade received numerous complaints about mature trees being felled on La Route Orange, La Haule Hill and at the Wayside in St Brelade's Bay.

Deputy Kirsten Morel described the recent example of woodland clearance as 'devastating'.

This is devastating. Don't open the link if you want to stay calm this evening. A developer has removed an entire area of woodland. Jsy law means no planning permission needed nor trees protected. 'Devastated', 'horrified' don't cover how I feel about it.https://t.co/odd51ymbBZ

— Kirsten Morel (@KirstenJersey) April 22, 2021

Is the law different in the UK?

The before and after photos from the neighbours view, were horrifying. pic.twitter.com/6oEu3w3zMD

— Kristina Le Feuvre (@Krislefeuvre) April 22, 2021

The Deputy later tweeted to says that 'work going on to ensure a brighter furure' for the land in question.

Some better news. I've learned that no housing is to be built on this land and that there is work going on to ensure a brighter future for it. No details yet, others are working on it but the signs are positive. https://t.co/uY92krdl92

— Kirsten Morel (@KirstenJersey) April 23, 2021

Channel 103 understands Deputy Inna Gardiner, who represents the district, is working with the land-owner, the parish and the National Trust on a 'positive outcome' for the area.