Residents step in to save Edenstone trees at St Mary's Garden Village

Residents of a new Herefordshire garden suburb say they have had to muster their own “chain gang” to water newly planted trees and shrubs after contractors left them to die in the heat.

Paul Morgan of the St Mary’s Garden Village residents’ association claimed contractors “threw around 40 trees in the ground, then did nothing” at the estate northeast of Ross-on-Wye.

“After four or five days, we realised no one was coming back to water them, so we got our own bucket chain gang going – though we couldn’t get to them all,” he said.

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Despite their efforts they were left with a “comically macabre” scene of dead trees, while over 100 recently planted shrubs are also looking poorly, Mr Morgan claimed.

Edenstone’s operations director Chris Edge explained: “Ordinarily we carry out landscaping works, including tree planting in autumn, to ensure best results.”

He said the trees, ordered ahead of building work being completed, “were planted soon after they were delivered to ensure roots would take”.

Dead and dying trees around St Mary's Garden Village “As both the sales and construction teams are no longer present, we have been paying people on-site to water the trees on our behalf,” he said.

“We’ve recently experienced the warmest and sunniest spring on record and with the with the support of residents watering has been carried out during the dry period.

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“We’re hoping with wetter conditions promised, the area will be looking at its best again.”

Many residents are also unhappy with Edenstone’s plans, currently being consulted on, to build a care home on what they claim was land intended as a wildflower meadow on an undeveloped patch at the edge of the site alongside the A40.

The proposal, which has drawn around 150 objections, is due to be decided on in early September.

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Local councillor Chris Bartrum said: “Promises were apparently made as regards the facilities and landscaping which many residents believe have not been followed through on.”

Mr Edge said previously that this site “has never been part of the vast areas of designated public open space at St Mary’s Garden Village”, and that Edenstone “has never given any guarantee that this land would not be developed”.

Coun Bartrum added he would “try to ensure that we get the best possible management of the estate, which in many respects is a great one and a real asset for residents and Ross-on-Wye”.