Three years ago – it seems longer – the lovely cherry trees along Portland Road facing the miserable in all weather conditions Shieldfield office block* were cut to stumps, part it seemed of a site clearance for a new Lidl's supermarket. They were about to come into bloom.
This isn't the prettiest spot in the district, though improving slightly. The loss of this signpost to Spring was particularly depressing.
Battlefield wielded its pen (e-mail version). Three local Councillors were contacted. Always be polite, and we were. The question was why? The position of the largest Cherry tree was not going to be a problem for the development. A previous showroom on this site hadn't found it to be.
Answer there came none. Your local Councillors have better things to do**.
Lidl U.K. however could not have been more helpful. We received a long explanatory letter with complete drawings and renditions of the building planned for site, and the intention to plant further trees up 25 in total. The would also be a comprehensive re-cycling facility to handle packing and other waste a materials.
Then the bombshell: Lidl U.K. had been instructed to cut down the existing Cherry trees by Newcastle City Council! The 'long term' idea, they apparently explained to Lidl U.K., was for a cycle path alongside the pavement. Going where, I ask?
Since when, following Covid and a recession, the site languishes. We could do with a Lidl's – a point I made in reply to Lidl U.K.'s kind advices to us here at Battlefield.
But the Cherry Tree has been reborn. With a bit of craft it might be restored to something fine and beautiful, a harbinger of better things to come.
*Used mostly by good sorts of organisations these days. I am not blaming these for the architectural failing to inspire.
** None are standing any longer.
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