East Dorset Friends of the Earth (EDFoE), a local action group and part of the national Friends of the Earth network, has been active since 1972 and covers the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) conurbation.
The group campaigns on both local and global environmental issues, raising awareness and pushing for solutions to environmental problems.
The group has submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request titled “Trees cut down and planted – Bournemouth gardens” to BCP Council, covering the period between 2020 and 2025.
The request was submitted by group member Steve Harper following concerns about the apparent lack of tree replacement. The FOI shows records of 15 trees felled in upper, central and lower gardens.
Steve said: “Based on the information provided in the subsequent email correspondence and the FOI response from the Council, the data supplied appears to be incomplete and raises several major concerns.
“The response showed that between August 2023 and October 2024, fifteen trees were recorded as having been removed. No records of replanting during this period were provided.”
Steve said the gardens are listed by Historic England as a Grade II site while being the heart of the town centre and a major part of tourist attraction.
He added: “They are also an essential part of BCP’s nature network, which should be central to our Nature Recovery Strategy.”
In response, BCP Council said it manages the Lower Gardens in line with their heritage status.
A spokesperson said Biodiversity Net Gain is a new process and that the council’s Urban Forest Strategy, along with joint work with Dorset Council on a Nature Recovery Strategy, demonstrates its commitment to improving natural spaces, funding permitting.
Kate Langdown, Director of Environment at BCP Council, said: “Trees within the garden are only removed following either storm damage or following identification of a safety defect e.g disease or failure, a single Cherry tree was removed as identified as a non-thriving tree and in agreement with Arboricultural Officers.
“Such losses are traceable against the 2011 Lower Central Gardens Trust formation tree assets baseline data record.
Councillor Hadley, Portfolio Holder with responsibilities for grounds maintenance, parks and gardens, also added: “As the Garden is within a conservation area and has listed status tree losses are expected to be replaced even when loss is through natural occurrences, the purpose being to maintain heritage, the Trust Board and the Council are committed to do so as our Urban Forest Strategy delivery plan progresses”.
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