LONGHOPE Parish Council wishes to correct headlines in the local press that there is any proposal for immediate felling of the landmark trees on May Hill.

It is true that many of the larger trees, principally the Corsican pines, have contracted a fungal disease, red band needle blight. This is likely to reduce the life span of these trees, some of which we believe were planted to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria, and so are at least 126 years old.

However, there are no plans to fell these trees but rather for us all to enjoy them for as long as they live. The parish council has recently felled two that had died and so might have become a health and safety hazard, but that is all.

Many of the trees in the surrounding newer planting are Scots pines, which are more resilient to the disease. Some of these are already too close together to the extent that some are suffering from lack of light, and there may be some judicious thinning to improve the air flow (the fungus thrives in damp environments) and so give these younger trees a better chance of surviving.

Longhope Parish Council as owners of the land is very grateful for all the concern that has been shown about the trees, that are a major local landmark. Discussions will continue about the timing and nature of any future replanting on the hill to preserve the landmark view, and there will be public announcements and discussions about any such proposals.

– Andrew Maliphant, Longhope Parish Clerk.