PLEASE HELP CHARLWOOD PROTECT ITS CHURCHYARD AND SURROUNDING GARDENS FROM CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION

Our petition states that no live trees or live tree stumps in St Nicholas churchyard (Charlwood, Surrey) should be treated by chemicals to kill them, and is addressed to whoever it may concern.

St Nicholas churchyard is the nearest Charlwood village (in Surrey) has to a park and it is used as such. It is a Conversation Area and all its trees have, since October 2014, been “protected” by Confirmed TPOs (Tree Preservation Orders). There is much treeless space available in the churchyard for burials, and there is therefore no need to remove trees unless they are dead, dangerous or damaging buildings. The trees are attractive, interesting and essential for wildlife, and have received the support of scientists linked to the Forestry Commission and Kew Gardens, other scientists and professionals, and many organisations and individuals. In late 2013, a secret plot was uncovered to fell 17 trees and mutilate 21 others.

The latest application to fell trees in the churchyard implies that a chemical can be used to kill live tree stumps which the World Health Organisation considers to be possibly carcinogenic to humans, and which Friends of the Earth has long campaigned against. The chemical remains in the soil and ground water. It can spread to other trees through soil and root fungi, and it can spread to ponds, wells and streams outside the churchyard through underground streams in the churchyard and surrounding areas. We consider that the churchyard trees should not be felled and existing live tree stumps should not be treated with chemicals to kill them. Several attractive trees in the churchyard were once live tree stumps.