IT'S been almost a year since the fate of two 'rare' trees on a site set for 80 new homes was to be decided - and the developer has confirmed one has been felled and gifted to the community.

The discovery of the rare cut-leafed hornbeams, which can live up to 500 years, at Carlisle's Deer Park development site, was first investigated by local resident Carol Black around three years ago. 

The trees had gone unnoticed in developer Gleeson’s original environmental report and would have been cut down.

However, with the help of Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Gardens and Kew Gardens, Carol identified the specimens, leading to Carlisle City Council issuing a temporary Tree Preservation Order (TPO) on site.

One of the trees has remained in place but the other had to be felled to meet road alignment plans. 

Five cuttings have been taken from the cut-down tree, one of which has made its way to the sensory garden at The Heathlands. 

As part of the section 106 legal agreement, Gleeson was required to provide £537,000 to deliver more school places and £43,000 towards public improvements - which £16,454.23 has been used for the redevelopment of the play park in Briar Bank. 

The funding allocation is one in which the developer is delighted to have paid ahead of schedule. 

Gleeson's David Wright, senior land director said: "I can confirm that one of the Cut Leaf Hornbeams was cut down, but five cuttings were taken and will be donated to local groups, including The Heathlands for their native tree garden, once they're established.

"We have also donated £1,000 to the sensory garden at The Heathlands.

"We secured planning permission to provide 80 homes at Deer Park in 2021.

"During the planning application process, local councillors were really concerned about the perceived lack of school places in north Carlisle.

"Our section 106 legal agreement required us to provide £537,000 to deliver more local school places and £43,000 towards improvements to local public open space, footpaths, and sports pitches. Payments had to be made over the lifetime of the build. 

"However, we wanted to do our bit to help deliver school places and improvements to open space in Carlisle as early as possible and that is why we made all our payments in Spring 2022.

"This will hopefully help the Council deliver the school places that everyone wants to see.

"We were thrilled to read in the News and Star last July that our contributions are already being put to good use to upgrade nearby Belah Play Park," he said.