Parents blast school’s plan to fell protected trees because birds are pooping on play equipment
A SCHOOL’S plan to fell five protected trees because nesting birds are pooping on kids’ play equipment has been blasted by parents.
Gordon Primary wants to axe three limes and two London planes — all healthy and 120 years old.
Teachers have blamed droppings from pigeons on equipment including a climbing frame for a “higher rate of sickness and absences” among the children and staff.
The school in Eltham, South East London, also claims some windows cannot be opened due to the build-up of poo.
It seeks permission from Greenwich Council to fell the trees “as a last resort” on health and safety grounds.
But parents are questioning why the trees — which have grown beside the reception play area since the school was built in 1904 — suddenly need chopping down.
Nearly 500 have signed a petition to try to save them.
One wrote: “Reception children catch every bug going when they start school. They are not made more ill by bird poo.”
Cass Farrar condemned the “nonsensical” plan and said trees were “valuable foliage” in a “concrete environment”.
Local Labour MP Clive Efford said: “The felling of healthy, mature trees is an extreme solution and should only be something considered when all other avenues have been exhausted.”
In a letter to parents, assistant head Hannah Cuesta wrote: “For the sake of our children’s health . . . the only course of action left is to remove five of the 12 trees along our boundary.”
She said “seven impressively tall trees” would remain.