IN Blackwell, Darlington, protesters have fixed notices on the felled trees, lying like struck-down Goliaths, which read “environmental vandalism”. Four ancient specimens still proudly standing have been kindly marked with bright green ribbon and carefully and beautifully tied bows.

People care, and if those trees had our human emotions their hearts would be broken today. I am not sure what protection the ribbons and bows will offer when the fellers arrive, but we humans have consciences, and consciences can be pricked even by simple green bows and ribbons.

The company that was commissioned to remove 200 or so trees has a mission statement which tells of its concern for the environment: “We ensure our services are at minimal cost to the environment by the use of biodegradable oil in our chainsaws.”

Tell that to those great trees.

The owls could be heard making their protest ten days ago, but the company’s website tells them: “We inspect sites prior to carrying out work to ensure we do not destroy nesting bird sites or bat roosts and have a minimum impact on other habitats.”

How considerate.

But I am biased. I have seen the fallen trees for myself.

If you have five minutes to spare, visit the site and make up your own mind.

All the councillors, including the leader, should also visit. Then they should go away and mull over what they would say to the trees, picturing the meadow in their mind, thinking about their planning processes and their positions of authority.

They would conclude: “Oh, how the mighty have fallen.”

Michael Green, Darlington