MORE than 1,000 new trees will be planted on council-owned land under a massive tree replacement programme as part of flood defence works in Kendal.

South Lakeland District Council’s (SLDC’s) Cabinet was told the Environment Agency (EA), which is undertaking the flood risk management works, is applying for consent from all landowners, including the council, for permission to remove trees to enable new defences to be built.

A report explained that following negotiations with the council, the EA has committed to planting at least 1,058 replacement trees on council-owned land to compensate for around 106 trees that would need to be removed.

The EA said it was looking wherever possible to remove and replant trees rather than fell them, and the eventual total number of trees being felled was likely to reduce further.

The 1,058 replacement trees on council land will be part of the 3,666 trees the EA is planning to plant across Kendal to replace an estimated 545 that will need to be removed for the flood defences.

Despite a concerted campaign opposing the flood scheme which centred on the trees and worries over its effect on central Kendal the scene was passed by SLDC earlier this year.

However, opposition to the flood defence plans remains and a group of campaigners have now launched a crowd funding scheme to finance a co-ordinated opposition to the plans.

The ‘Save the Heart of Kendal’ group intend to use the money raised to fund a publicity campaign including the widespread distribution of leaflets to highlight their concerns.

The group, who as part of their campaign adorned some of the threatened trees with festive decorations, have also launched a petition to Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers.

At the time of going to press, they had raised more than half of the initial £1,000 target.

Total funding for the full flood defence scheme is still being finalised but the EA are expected to provide a full update in the near future.