Sadness as trees felled for castle redevelopment

The council said the trees were felled to make the grounds more accessible

Trees surrounding a Nottinghamshire castle have been felled as part of a major re-development project.

Work is currently taking place to reopen Newark Castle's gatehouse with an accessible ramp, galleries and viewing areas.

The work started last month and is expected to take two years, but the felling of 16 trees has been met with sadness by residents, with one describing it as "disgraceful".

Newark and Sherwood District Council said the trees were brought down to make the grounds more accessible to visitors.

David Dunville, 65, said the decision was disgraceful

David Dunville, 65, keeps a boat at Newark Marina and visits the castle grounds for picnics with his grandchildren.

He said the decision to fell the trees was "disgraceful", adding: "I hate to see trees chopped down. It's part of nature, it's how we breathe, it's our heritage."

Mr Dunville's wife Karen, 60, said: "They must have been here for 100 years at least. Why start changing things?."

Fiona MacLeod lives near Newark and regularly visits the town to shop.

The 51-year-old said she was "shocked" when she first saw what had happened to the trees.

"I can understand why there are a lot of feelings, but now we can see the beautiful castle."

Simon Bennett, 60, works in the town and said it looks more of an eyesore

Simon Bennett, 60, who lives in Mansfield but works in the town, added: "There's no delicacy about it and I think it looks more of an eyesore.

"They're a generational thing and a lot of people have grown up seeing those trees."

The project, which will cost £5.4m in total, will be funded through the National Lottery Heritage Fund grant and a £3m investment from the government's Towns Fund initiative.

Newark and Sherwood District Council said it anticipates the visitor experience would attract about 17,000 visitors from outside the district each year.

Paul Peacock, leader of the council, said the decision to fell the trees was confirmed during the planning process in 2021 and then reconfirmed in 2023.

"It's no secret to anyone," he added. "We've carried out various tree surveys with specialists to explain to us the impact of the build, the impact of making the grounds more accessible.

"We're actually replanting trees nearby at the Riverside Park and also in those areas where we've taken the trees out."