Almost 455,000 trees felled by UK councils in past 10 years

Almost 455,000 trees have been felled across the country by local councils over the past 10 years, i has revealed.

Paul Powlesland, co-founder of Lawyers for Nature (LFN), a group which includes lawyers supporting environmental activists said “local authorities do not have the interest of trees at heart”.

He said: “It is like the fox guarding the hen house – they [councils] are charged with protecting trees but they also have a role in felling them.”

LFN want an independent body like English Heritage to be given the power enforce to TPOs, instead of councils.