Locals upset as over 40 trees to be cut down in Glasgow park

The council recently notified locals around Cathkin Park that the plants around the games area will be removed as they were found "unsuitable for their location".

Kirsty Turkinton, who visits the green space almost every day, said: "It's terrible. We use the park a lot.

"My partner is a big fan of owls and there is an owl that lives in the trees and a great spotted woodpecker as well.

"It's our park, it's council property and we have not been consulted on this.

"I think it will be damaging, not only to the well-being of locals but the wildlife as well."

Overall, 15 small trees and 26 mature ones will be cut down and the work will be completed in the next few months.

The 34-year-old master's student said: "For the people who live here, this is an important green space.

"For the people who live in the tenement flats, this is the biggest green space they can get to easily, to walk their dogs in the morning."

She added that the tall shrubs provide a cooling shade for people and pets in the area.

Members of Friends of Cathkin Park have also expressed their anger that the change will happen without any consultation.

A Glasgow City Council spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, we’ve had to remove these trees for safety reasons as they have been affected by ash dieback disease.

“The disease significantly weakens ash trees and makes them prone to collapse, which presents a real danger to people and property.

“Ash dieback disease has spread across Europe in recent years and presents a major risk to the city’s estimated 250,000 ash trees as there is no known treatment.

“Around half of the city’s trees are on private property and so we also are urging residents, businesses and other organisations to check to see if ash trees in their gardens or grounds are also affected.”