The date today is 29th Jan 2008 and we have just had confirmation from Mid Devon District Council that they have no objection to the application we made to have 28 trees removed from the site in order to create the historic gardens.
This may seem a drastic step for us to be making, especially considering that we have a policy of being environmentally conscious as possible,and even more drastic when you consider that The Priory lies within a conservation area in Mid Devon. So why are we doing it?
To begin with the majority of the trees, are miss-placed, small, but over-grown, conifers, which have been mistakenly planted, as is so often the case, in unsuitable positions. Also some of the trees are so badly suited to their positions that they are in very poor condition. The main exception to this is an enormous Cupressus macrocarpa, which on it's native cliff top environment in America only grows to a height of around 60ft, has attained in our garden aprox 120ft, and being in a village situation close to many houses, and also being in a state of decline, could very soon become unsafe, and more difficult to remove safely than it already is. The Council have also taken into consideration our planting plan for large quantities of native trees and shrubs along with our plans for some very old cultivated varieties which will make up our historic gardens, and decided that we will be providing a for greater amenity than we are removing. We are very pleased with the Councils foresight in this matter and feel we have been given a huge thumbs-up.