'Outrage' as Fruit Trees Removed at Stroud Maternity Hospital for Car Park Expansion

Several fruit trees at Stroud Maternity Hospital, which have been part of the site for over a decade, were recently felled without prior notice. The removal coincides with plans to expand the hospital car park, sparking frustration among local campaigners and community members.

The seven fruit trees were planted in 2014 by Edible Stroud, a local food planting project operating under the environmental organisation Transition Stroud. This initiative was carried out with approval from the relevant NHS authorities, with representatives from the NHS Care Commission and the hospital’s League of Friends present at the time of planting.

Despite this, five of the seven trees have now been removed without any community consultation. The Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust has since resubmitted a planning application, previously withdrawn, to extend the car park. The proposal would increase parking spaces from 105 by 41, a 39% rise, eliminating the green space where the trees once stood.

Josie Cowgill, founder of Edible Stroud and coordinator at the nearby Trinity Rooms Community Hub, expressed her shock at the removal. She rejected claims from the Trust that they could not identify the ownership or origin of the trees, highlighting the explicit permission obtained at the project’s outset and documentation of the planting available on the NHS Forest project’s website.

Cowgill emphasised the importance of the trees as ecological and community assets, noting they provided carbon capture, fruit, nuts, wildlife habitat, shade, and contributed to biodiversity. She criticised the decision to prioritise parking expansion over environmental considerations, stressing the necessity of preserving natural resources for future wellbeing and survival.

Green county councillor Natalie Rothwell-Warn described the removal as contrary to the aims of the NHS Forest project, which encourages tree planting in hospital grounds, including fruit trees. She noted that the trees were funded by the National Lottery and regarded as “People’s Trees,” stating their removal should have involved thorough community consultation.

Rothwell-Warn also mentioned the Trust’s offer to plant trees elsewhere on site and expressed a wish for discussions to ensure proper care and protection of any replacements, preventing loss of ecological and community benefits.

Cllr Lucas Schoemaker, Green town and district councillor for Trinity ward, questioned the necessity of car park expansion, especially given reported plans to reduce maternity services. He pointed out that the car park is often used by the general public, not solely hospital affiliates. Schoemaker suggested alternative measures such as reinstating a permit system and enhancing parking enforcement to manage usage effectively, preserving the hospital’s sole green space.

A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Health & Care NHS Foundation Trust acknowledged the disappointment caused by the tree removal. They affirmed their recognition of the environmental and wellbeing benefits trees offer and expressed readiness to discuss replanting in alternative locations while addressing parking needs and installing electric vehicle charging points to support lower-emission vehicles.

The car park expansion proposal is currently under consultation until 17 September, with opportunities for public comment accessible via the Stroud District Council planning website. Many local residents have already voiced opposition to the plans, reflecting ongoing community concern about the impact on the hospital environment.

‘Outrage’ as Fruit Trees Removed at Stroud Maternity Hospital for Car Park Expansion