Borders climate campaigners’ mature-tree message

Action was taken last Sunday evening by Extinction Rebellion Scottish Borders (ERSB) to reinforce its message that mature carbon-absorbing trees must be protected in all planning decisions taken by Scottish Borders Council. This comes after clear felling was approved for the Borders Gateway development at Tweedbank. ERSB members made banners out of recycled materials which they attached to some of the few remaining trees on the site.

This comes after clear felling was approved for the Borders Gateway development at Tweedbank.

A group of ERSB members made banners out of recycled materials which they attached to some of the few remaining trees on the site.

A spokesman for the group said: “The mature trees did not need to be felled in such great numbers for this development.”

He went on: “It is shocking that at a time of climate emergency Scottish Borders Council gave in to pressure from the developer to enable its commercial outlets to be more clearly visible from the bypass, by removing all the mature trees – which provided pleasing screening around the edge of the site – as well as absorbing and reducing CO2 from the air.

“Developers too have a duty to count the carbon cost of their projects, and take the trouble to work with the environment, not destroy it.”

The spokesman added: “We ignore the loss of mature trees in the name of ‘development’ at our peril and must stop seeing woodlands and forests merely as disposable commodities.”

He explained: “They have such a crucial part to play in the restoration of our eco systems, which in turn mitigate the effects of climate change which is affecting us all.”