Star date: 8th April 2019

SALIX CHOPPING TREES IN SWINTON POETS ESTATE

As Salix Living develops a new 'exclusive' housing scheme within the Poets estate in Swinton, residents are complaining that the company is chopping down mature trees in bird nesting season, which runs from March to August.

"The felled trees...had been used by small nesting birds for years, particularly sparrows and tits" says resident Tracy Holroyd who has submitted data on the birds for BTO Garden Birdwatch "I can't prove that there were nests in those trees – but they can't prove that there weren't..."

Full details here...

Salix Living, the private company that's part of Salix Homes, is currently building new housing on the Poets estate in Swinton, which it is marketing as 'exclusive' two and three bedroom homes, starting at almost £148,000.

Planning permission documents for the development show that "Due to the suitability of the trees within the survey boundary for nesting birds, all tree work should ideally be undertaken outside the bird nesting season (March to August, inclusive)...

"If this is not possible then a detailed inspection of each tree should be undertaken by a qualified ecologist immediately prior to the arboricultural works" the documents add "Should an active nest be found (being built, containing eggs or chicks), any work likely to affect the nest must be halted until the nest becomes inactive."

However, local resident and top author, Tracy Holroyd, spotted mature trees being felled last Friday, and immediately contacted both Salford City Council and Salix Living.

"The felled trees were pretty much the height of the houses and had been used by small nesting birds for years, particularly sparrows and tits" she told the Salford Star "In the past, I have collected and submitted data as part of the BTO Garden BirdWatch, which is when I realised how important these particular trees were to the local small bird population.

"When I realised that they were felling the trees, I rang Salix Homes and Salford City Council, and I also tweeted to Councillor Derek Antrobus, who has been helpful in the past" she added "Councillor Antrobus responded quickly and promised to chase the matter up with Salix Homes. A contact from Salford City Council's tree preservation department contacted me but informed me that there was no law against felling trees during nesting season. Not true – it's a criminal offence.

"When I challenged the fellers, they told me that they had checked for nests before cutting" she explained "I don't believe them. I can't prove that there were nests in those trees – but they can't prove that there weren't. They probably didn't expect to be challenged because the trees were in back gardens and out of public sight. Nothing anyone can do about it now but it means that the authorities involved have done as they please, as usual. These people hide behind excuses and platitudes. In the end, they get what they want, no matter who suffers, and they get away with it."

Before the trashing of trees, were they examined by "a qualified ecologist"?, the Salford Star asked Salix but so far the company hasn't responded.