Saved from the chop: campaigners fight to keep Manchester city centre trees

Manchester City Council has placed a provisional Tree Preservation Order (TPO) on a number of much-loved trees in the city centre.

The so-called Aytoun trees have been the subject of a campaign by residents’ group Aytoun Barks Back.

There is now a period of time in which people can object to the order, so those who back it are being encouraged to make their views known.

What are the Aytoun trees?

The trees in question are 31 London planes located between Aytoun, Minshull, Major and Bloom Streets.

They are located around a car park.

The group of residents who formed the group Aytoun Barks Back have been concerned that they might be cut down for some time.

Last year they approached councillors representing Piccadilly ward and organised a petition to show the strength of feeling against them being chopped down.

What has happened and what happens next?

Manchester City Council has now provided a provisional TPO for the Aytoun trees.

However, objections can be raised against the move and the campaign group is worried that will be the case.

To help counterbalance this, they want those in favour of saving the trees to write to the town hall planning department and make their views clear.

The campaign for the trees all arises from ongoing discussions about the Gay Village and the surrounding area of Manchester as an ideal place for people to live as well as visit to use the amenities, a ward councillor told Manchester World.

What do the campaigners say?

Aytoun Barks Back says the London planes play an important role in keeping the city’s air clean.

They therefore want the council to commit to keeping them as part of making Manchester a zero-carbon city.

To reach this stage by 2038, carbon emissions need to fall by around 13 per cent each year.

They are now hoping to once again rally public support in the hope of getting the full TPO agreed.

Campaigner and local resident Rob Darby said: “Please email to say that you strongly support putting a Preservation Order on these 31 magnificent city centre trees.

“It’ll only take a couple of minutes, and it will really make a difference if the council knows this campaign has a lot of public support.

“If you want to say more in your own words about the importance of green space in town, of course that would be great!”

Another local resident, Lynette Cawthra, said: “We’re absolutely made up that the council agrees - to quote its wording from the proposed TPO - that these trees ‘make a significant contribution’ to the urban landscape.

“There are so few mature trees in the city centre that this group of 31 lovely trees are really something special.

“We’d urge people to write to the council to make sure they’re kept safe for everyone to enjoy.”

What else has been said about the trees?

Piccadilly ward councillors Adele Douglas, Sam Wheeler and Jon-Connor Lyons said: “These are some of the most mature trees within the city centre and need to be officially protected.

“The plot of land is a surface level car park and most likely will see development in the future. That is why it is so vital that these trees are protected from being cut down in the middle of the night.

“If people join us in demanding a Tree Preservation Order for these fantastic trees, we can help to ensure they remain part of the streetscape in our city centre.”

Coun Wheeler added: “This all goes back to being in favour of city centre living, not just existing.

“Trees like this, as well as other aspects of our blue-green infrastructure, are vital to creating a real sense of place and community we can all benefit from in years to come.”

The Greater Manchester Ecology Unit has said: “Tree cover, and particularly cover from mature broadleaved trees, is very scarce in the city centre and therefore the trees are an important local resource for wildlife.

“Every evening you can see different species of birds roosting there.”

Manchester City Council said it would not be making any official comment beyond what is in the wording of the provisional TPO.