Fruit trees planted over ten years ago at Stroud Maternity Hospital have been removed without warning to make way for an expanded car park, prompting strong community backlash. The seven fruit trees were originally planted in 2014 by local food initiative Edible Stroud, operating under Transition Stroud, with full permission from NHS authorities and the presence of NHS Care Commission members and the hospital’s League of Friends at the time of planting.
Recently, five of these trees were felled without consultation, coinciding with the Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust resubmitting a planning application to increase car parking capacity by 41 spaces, a 39% rise from the existing 105, resulting in the loss of the green space that housed the trees.
Josie Cowgill, founder of Edible Stroud and coordinator of the nearby Trinity Rooms Community Hub, expressed her shock at the trees’ removal. She challenged claims from the NHS Trust stating they could not identify the trees' ownership or origin, emphasising that permission had been explicitly granted and documented, including photographs displayed on the NHS Forest project website.
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“The assertion that no ownership or formal authorisation could be identified is implausible,” Cowgill said. “Anyone at the Trust could have contacted the Trinity Rooms hub to learn the full history of the trees.”
She highlighted the ecological and community value the trees provided, noting their role in capturing carbon, producing fruit and nuts, supporting wildlife habitats, and enhancing biodiversity. Cowgill criticised the prioritisation of increased parking over these established natural assets, stating that such actions exacerbate environmental challenges and undermine long-term sustainability and wellbeing.
Green county councillor Natalie Rothwell-Warn also condemned the removal, pointing out its contradiction with the NHS Forest project’s goals of promoting tree planting on hospital grounds. She noted the trees were funded by the National Lottery and described them as “the People’s Trees,” which deserved consultation before removal.
The NHS Trust has acknowledged the community’s disappointment and has expressed willingness to consider planting new trees elsewhere on the hospital site. Councillors and residents have requested meetings with Trust representatives to ensure any replanting is protected and supported to prevent a repeat loss.
Local Green councillor Lucas Schoemaker criticised the necessity of expanding the car park, especially given plans to reduce maternity services at the hospital. He suggested better parking management, such as reinstating permits and enforcement, instead of sacrificing the hospital’s only green space-a sanctuary for wildlife and a cherished community resource.
A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Health & Care NHS Foundation Trust said: “We apologise for the disappointment caused by the loss of these trees. We understand the environmental and wellbeing benefits trees provide and support maintaining diverse trees across our sites. We welcome discussions about replanting trees on alternative site locations while balancing parking needs and environmental considerations, including installing electric vehicle charging points.”
The car park expansion proposal is currently under public consultation, with many objections already submitted. Residents have until 17 September to comment via the Stroud District Council planning website.