CHILDREN gathered at a protest before school this morning (July 1) to show their support for saving a row of 18 trees, which York Racecourse plans to fell.

Around 30 people, including pupils from Knavesmire Primary and York Central MP, Rachael Maskell, turned out for the rally on Campleshon Road near the line of mature lombardy poplar trees that could be cut down. The 27 metre-plus trees are located on the edge of a car park belonging to the racecourse.

During the demonstration, the children tied a yellow ribbon on the gateway to the trees, which are protected with a Tree Preservation Order.

A planning application has been submitted by York Racecourse to City of York Council to remove the 18 trees. The plan is to cut them down and replace them with eight fastigiate beech trees.

A spokesman for York Racecourse said it is aware of comments on social media and of "the actions of some parents and children with regard to the planning application."

"None of the individuals concerned have spoken to the team at York Racecourse and we are not sure they appreciate the age, risks or low ecological value of these poplars nor the racecourse plans to replace them with eight beech trees that are indigenous to the area and will support far more biodiversity, for many generations to come," the spokesman added.

In a report that accompanies the application it says the trees have been graded as being in a "fair physiological and poor structural condition, i.e. these trees are below-average quality specimens which would require extensive, frequent or disproportionate remedial work to significantly enhance their potential for long-term retention."

It says the trees are of “low ecological value" and the risk of harm is "unacceptable" and recommends the removal of the trees and replacing them with beech trees.

It also says that "at 27m+ tall they have grown significantly beyond what was necessary to screen the now demolished warehouses located on the former factory site."

Mollie Nicholl, in year 4 at Knavesmire Primary and co-founder of the school’s eco club, said: “We need to keep the trees because they help us to breathe, and they’re really important because animals live in them, and we’re getting less and less of them, and I don’t see why we need to chop them down if they can get better.”

Ms Maskell commented: “York needs to plant more trees. Only four per cent of York is covered in trees compared to the national average of 12 per cent.

"We need trees to mitigate against flooding and also against wider climate change. And therefore at a time when we should be planting, we shouldn’t be felling.”

Resident Orna O'Toole lives opposite the trees is keen to see them remain.

She said: "We need to see an appraisal of how these trees could be managed. Some of the money the racecourse earn from the races could be used to maintain these trees rather than trying to eradicate them and replace them with eight small beech trees which will take years to grow. I would rather see these trees remain looking as glorious as they do today for the benefit of the local environment, the local community and the local children. We should be keeping trees not cutting them down."

Louise Ennis, local community campaigner, set up an online petition at the weekend to save the trees, which has already collected more than 400 signatures.

She said: "These trees are part of the natural landscape which makes this part of the city so special for residents and visitors. They screen the racecourse parking and noise from local housing and the primary school, and screen the new housing development from the racecourse. The racecourse should be looking after them for the benefit of the community as they make a huge contribution to the character of the area."

To sign the petition, visit: https://www.change.org/p/york-racecourse-save-mature-trees-on-york-racecourse

The racecourse spokesman said the due process of the planning application is the forum to engage with any concerns, "as such a route gives access to the full facts."

The spokesman said the indepedent report that accompanies the application followed an incident when a branch fell from a poplar and damaged garden furniture in an adjacent property. He added: "York Racecourse is active in managing the stock of trees on its site and is simply following the expert recommendation in applying to replace the poplars which have reached the end of their natural life, with a treeline of beeches, fit for the next generation. Indeed, within the last five years York Racecourse planted 17 semi mature trees on the western boundary of this car park.

"The trees were originally planted in the 1960s to provide a screen from the Terrys Chocolate Factory and are now reported to be brittle, 27 metres high and within 10 metres of the perimeter which has changed its use into adjacent residential housing which adds further weight to the need to manage the trees.

"To address other concerns, in general terms, the poplar is considered a very poor tree in terms of its bio diversity, in these specific examples there is no evidence of any nesting activity. To the contrary, the proposed replacement beech trees with their rounded canopy would, in time, be a genuine positive addition to the local environment."