AS A Green, I find it very hard to see trees chopped down, especially just before the beginning of the nesting season.

Therefore, as the Oxford Mail reported (March 19), when I received an urgent call from a man trying to protect trees in Oxford, I went to see what was happening.

Seeing a stand-off between a man in a tree and three other men ready to cut the tree down, with neither side looking as if they were going to budge, I offered my support in asking for a conversation with the person who could tell me what was happening here and why.

I also supported the decision to call off the work for the day, so everybody could cool off and this conversation could be had.

Since then I have had a conversation with the chairman of Cripley Meadows Allotment Association, who told me about its plan to create a communal apple orchard on the site (which I found an undeniably attractive prospect).

I asked why the work had not been carried out in the winter rather than at the beginning of nesting season, and was told the willows had been too wet until now.

The chairman also educated me in the fact willows pollarded to the ground drink an astonishing nine times the amount of water that fully grown willows do; therefore I need not be concerned about the work exacerbating flooding.

I finally wondered why this reasonably major piece of work had not come to our area committee and was told that an officer in the city council estates department had said it would come to the committee, but it had not appeared on the agenda and that the chairman of the committee (who knew about the orchard plan) had finally decided there was no need.

If all local councillors knew that trees were to be cut or heavily pollarded then the conversation we were having could have been had earlier and I would not have been shocked and uncomprehending at the site of the newly-cut trees.

However, on the basis that what I have been told are the facts, I would like to place on record my support for an orchard on the site, and if the willows need to be pollarded to help prevent flooding and to ensure that the land remains stable, then I accept this.

Sushila Dhall, Councillor, Green Party, Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council