Environmentalists and campaigners were joined by the public at the weekend to show their opposition to the planned removal of 67,000 trees at the Prince William of Gloucester Barracks.

The Sunday protest was part of Big Green Week. , which features a range of campaigns and events from the South Lincolnshire Green Party.

The trees were planted almost ten years ago by the Grantham-based Woodland Trust, the army and local supporters as a Diamond Jubilee Wood, to mark 60 years on the throne by HRH Queen Elizabeth.

Campaigners say 60ha of the 73ha of native woodland are a vital green lung for Grantham but are threatened by proposals from Homes England and The Defence Infrastructure Organisation to build 4000 new homes on the site.

As Nub News previously reported, the scheme, which went to public consultation earlier this summer, faces much local opposition, especially concerning the proposed removal of the trees.

Anne Gayfer from the Green Party said:"We're asking for leadership to help us provide a future for our children.

"The future of economic development is a stable environment and I am exasperated that our government cannot see that removing trees, which then leads to development that impacts on all of our natural systems must stop."

Adam Cormack from the Woodland Trust added: "More than 2,500 people responded to the recent consultation on the future of Prince William of Gloucester Barracks to oppose development plans to fell around 80% of the trees planted on site.

"These trees were planted by the Woodland Trust and the local community. We are urging Homes England to present new proposals that protect much more of the existing young woodland on site. We are living in a climate emergency.

"This site should be a demonstration of what can be done to incorporate trees into development, not a worst-case scenario where most trees are felled.".

To give people a voice on this and other environmental-related issues, the Greens plan a peaceful demonstration on St Peter's Hill, Grantham at 11am on Sunday September 26, also aiming to underline they want action taken action against climate change.