‘Surgeons’ that destroy tree life

I would like to add my own concern to the feelings expressed by Paul Fryday (Anger As Council Axes Tress In City Centre Gardens, Kentish Gazette, April 10).

He said: “The council wants straight lawns and flower beds, they don’t want nature.”

This is increasingly true. Some call it “wallpaper gardening” where flowers are planted in full bloom, then pulled up and composted to make room for the next display.

True, the beds leading in from the Westgate Gardens’ main gates are very attractive with the delightful perfume of wallflowers. But the charm of the Westgate Gardens, through which I have been walking for more than 60 years, has been the variety.

One has walked from the more formal gardens through herbaceous borders to the more natural areas.

Traditionally, the Westgate Gardens have been a haven for birds. Not long ago there was a spotted flycatcher in the trees now cut down.

The council experimented with the unfortunate changes to the Westgate Towers area and finally listened to public opinion and reversed them.

Such a reversal is not possible with the felling of trees. Admittedly, sycamores, ash and willows grow quickly, but it takes a lifetime to produce old trees of character.

Some trees are “deformed” we are told. I sincerely hope the council does not plan to slaughter the most deformed tree of all: the plane tree.

So-called “tree surgeons” are prolific these days, as anyone with a tree or trees in their garden will know. They are as invasive and persuasive as double-glazing salesmen.

Each “surgeon” will be able to point out something wrong with each and every tree over 10 years old.

I deliberately put “surgeon” in inverted commas in this case.

A surgeon, to me, is someone whose aim is to save or prolong life, not destroy it. Jane Withington Mead Way, Canterbury very easily and may develop early degenerative osteoarthritis; chronic pain in joints and limbs; teeth that may be carious; heart irregularities; skeletal deformities; arteries may rupture in some types; irritable bowel syndrome-like symptoms; problems with bladder, possible incontinency, retention and repeated infections; and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) which increases the heart rate and lowers blood pressure when rising from a supine position.

Other symptoms could be brain fog, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia.

EDS can affect men and women of any race or ethnic group.

The exact incidence of EDS is unknown.

However, medical literature suggests that one in 5,000 may have EDS and it may be even more prevalent.

Ehlers-Danlos Support UK, the support organisation for sufferers, is committed to raising public awareness and to fundraising to finance research into this distressing condition.

Throughout the year, EDS sufferers, their families, friends and carers involve themselves in fundraising activities, some of which are very challenging.

May 2014 has been designated EDS Awareness Month when determined efforts are made to increase public awareness.

An awareness and information open day is to be held in the outpatients department of Kent and Canterbury Hospital on Wednesday, May 7, from around 10am.

There will be literature available and it will be possible to speak to one or two people with personal experience of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. John Rose Millstrood Road, Whitstable.