[Amoeba]

Since this affects all wildlife in general I guess this goes here...

It seems lately here in Edinburgh, or at least on my side of the city the council have been taking more steps than usual to remove shrubs and young trees for no apparent reason.

At a park I used to frequent they started removing many trees and shrubs in favour of open space. These were, however, in spots set aside for trees and shrubs. Basically they made the ground bare of shrubs and thinned out the trees. Their intent according the response to my email was to remove non-native species and thin out areas of risk, specifying places where trees overhang over paths or where the trees are damaged or could fall in high winds. This left the destruction of healthy, native trees that were well established and out of the way unexplained.

Recently, a friend of mine had people from the council in their garden to put up a new fence on one side of the garden. They had no choice but to remove the shrubs lining the part where the fence was to be put up and this was agreed to - nothing was said about the others and the young trees that were well out of the way of the new fence. Yet, for some reason, they removed everything, even the young trees leading to a lot of frustration as these were much loved and cared-for plants.

Now, the grass cutters. They're supposed to cut grass, right? Well just lately I've seen them being used not just for cutting grass, but for eating entire bushes. I doubt they're supposed to because the machine sometimes stalls on large bushes. Bushes that have been growing in these particular spots for years and before you say "maybe they were causing problems" I don't see how. They were in spots (again) set aside for shrubs and trees. These spots have been getting smaller and smaller through out the course of the past year, never before have I seen them shrink so drastically. Hawthorns, elders, roses all falling victim. I even seen them try to take the big old rosemary just outside but thankfully it was too tough for their machines and it's been left alone since.

What's the sudden bias against trees and greenery? Why is grass being replaced with concrete? Why are shrubs and young trees being removed like vermin from spots where they could thrive without disturbing anyone? Why do they go to the trouble of planting young trees and giving them those support shields only to tear them down a few years later? Why do they say they're all for wildlife but remove the homes birds and mammals need?