CAMPAIGNERS have spoken of their “devastation” after Southend Council felled a 70-year-old willow tree in Chalkwell Park.

The weeping willow, beside a pond in the popular park, once provided shade for picnickers and for pond life.

But the council decided it was dropping too many leaves into the water and must be destroyed rather than trimmed back.

Richard Longstaff, from Once-Upon-a-Tree Southend, said: “What has happened to that willow is absolutely another example of a tree needlessly removed. It has been there for decades.

“Chalkwell Park is my local park.

“What the council doesn’t realise is people are devastated. It’s like losing a friend. One resident said they remember sitting under that tree with their baby twins.”

Mr Longstaff added: “I take my children to Chalkwell Park regularly. It’s such a wonderful beauty spot around that pond. That willow tree was a beautiful accompaniment to the pond.

Angry residents took to the group’s Facebook page to vent their anger. One said: “Are they taking out that gorgeous willow all my children played beside?

“I can’t bear all this. I’m so sick of all this destruction of nature I don’t even know what to say any more.”

Another said: “Hard pruning known as pollarding the willow would of sufficed. As the willow would of re grown branches over the next few years.”

Responding to the criticism, arboricultural officer Robin Swan, said: “We have been doing work around the pond in the park in order to give more life to the pond and encourage wildlife and greater biodiversity

"The weeping willows are in the process of being pruned. This is just to manage their growth and stop them becoming too large.

"They are in the north side so don't keep the sun from the pond particularly. However, the twisted willow tree has been removed as it was shading the pond too much and due to it leaning over the pond the volume of leaves falling into the pond together with those from other trees were having an adverse effect on water quality.

"I do agree it is a shame to lose this tree. It was unfortunately not in the right place and was causing problems with the wildlife in the pond.”

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Paul Rabbitts, head of parks and open spaces at Southend Council, said: “Chalkwell Park pond is surrounded by several willow trees. This means that the pond is now in near total shade which is extremely detrimental to pond life.

“The Royal Horticultural Society advise that ponds with too much shade are not good for wildlife and to ensure, at least, part of the pond is in full sun.

“This ensures the water warms quickly in spring, making it more attractive to spawning frogs and toads.

“We therefore needed to remove this one specific tree to allow sunlight to get to the pond. If we did nothing and left the tree in place, the pond would become stagnant because the plants that supply oxygen to the water need sunlight.”