A group of Scots pine trees described as “iconic” in the garden of a home in Bassenthwaite have been cut down.
The trees were in The Old Smithy at Castle Hill and were a welcoming sight in the landscape when local man Darren Ward made his way into work each day.
Mr Ward said: “The Old Smithy is a building on one of the ancient routes around the area and the trees, which were Scots pine and at least 200 years old, were iconic. As they started to be cut down I thought what a terrible waste as they were such a major part of the landscape.”
Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) trees and woodland officer Lucy Saunders has confirmed the trees in question were not protected. She said: “This means that no unauthorised tree work has taken place and a breach in legislation has not been made.
“The public are welcome to request Tree Preservation Orders on trees but are advised to bear in mind that a TPO is made upon the public amenity value of a tree/s (the tree should be visible from a public space) combine with expediency (the tree is under threat in some way),” she added.
Members of the public can ask the LDNPA to look at trees. A relevant officer will investigate and make a decision based on that investigation.
