THERE are fears that islanders could chop down trees that do not appear on Environment’s Tree Protection Order list.

The Men of the Trees have expressed concern at the Environment Department’s recent listing of 46 protected trees.

This details trees across the island that cannot be felled. Those which have had planning applications to remove them rejected in the past are included.

However, Men of the Trees chairman Bob Paine (pictured) was worried that the new orders would do more harm than good.

‘I think it is fair to say we are very concerned about these new orders,’ he said.

‘There is no doubt it will make it easier to get trees removed in the short run. They are not well protected unless they are already subject to a key preservation order.

‘Hedges will be better protected than trees. That’s how it will work out. We are watching how things develop with interest.’