Notre Dame | Dogs | Cats | Big mistakes | Royal award Why use pristine oaks to repair Notre Dame, when no one will see these timbers, asks Robin Prior. Photograph: Nick Brundle Photography/Getty Images Why use pristine oaks to repair Notre Dame, when no one will see these timbers, asks Robin Prior. Photograph: Nick Brundle Photography/Getty Images Letters Fri 19 Feb 2021 11.41 EST Last modified on Sun 7 Mar 2021 23.13 EST A thousand ancient trees are to be felled to replace la forêt in the roof of Notre Dame (Report, 16 February). Why use pristine oak? No one will ever see these timbers. Surely this is an excellent opportunity to use glulam beams, which are stronger, highly sustainable, and do not require the felling of ancient trees. The cathedral’s original builders used the best and latest technologies. Why don’t we?