HISTORIC trees in Shawlands are being axed more than 100 years on from when they are believed to have been planted. 

Glasgow City Council officers begun the felling process at open spaces across the area yesterday. 

The trees, at Minard Road and Dinmont Road, were deemed to have reached the end of their life by council experts. 

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The work was originally due to begin in April, but was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

In a letter sent to residents, Stevie Scott, head of neighbourhood services for Glasgow South, wrote: "I write to you to inform you of upcoming tree works in the Shawlands area.

"Unfortunately, many of the whitebeam trees on 3 of the open spaces in Shawlands are now coming to the end of their safe useful life expectancy. The trees have become over-mature and are now beginning to go into decline due to fungal decay problems that are associated with old age."

Glasgow Times: The trees on Minard Road The trees on Minard Road

He added: "Unfortunately, replanting opportunities at the Minard Road and Dinmont Road open spaces will be limited in the short term. This is due to the close proximity of the remaining mature trees.

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"However, as more and more of the whitebeam trees at these open spaces are required to be removed over the next few years due to their declining health, the council will have then have the opportunity to replant new trees into the open spaces in order to provide a new generation of tree cover for the Shawlands area." 

A council spokesman added: "Unfortunately these trees are reaching the end of their lives and are beginning to pose a risk to safety.

“As space becomes available for replanting we want to work with the local community to ensure a suitable level of tree cover is restored to the area.”