An ASHLEY Heath resident has criticised the felling of 50-year-old trees as “appalling”, while a property developer defends its actions. The mature oak and Scots pines were cut down in the garden of 22 Bushmead Drive in June, a property owned and currently being developed by Balson Homes. Richard Jeffries lives adjacent to the property and told the Daily Echo: “There had been a planning application for the residential development which caused me to enquire with the Dorset tree protection team as to the status of the trees at 22 Bushmead. “The local tree protection officer visited to examine the trees and resolved to raise a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) on them immediately. The very next day, we were shocked to see a huge gang of tree surgeons cutting all the 50-year-old trees down.