Judi Dench calls for cathedral trees to be saved

Dame Judi Dench has called for trees that would be felled to make way for Ripon Cathedral’s new £8m annexe to be saved.

The cathedral submitted plans in late 2022 for a two-storey structure on part of the public open space known as Minster Gardens.

The actor, who is an ambassador and patron for the Woodland Trust, said she "fully supported" a campaign to protect the 11 at-risk trees in the grounds.

The Dean of Ripon previously said the new development "will bring a wide range of benefits to the city".

Councillors on North Yorkshire Council are due to make a decision on whether the scheme can proceed, with the annexe providing a new song school for the cathedral choir, a cafe, toilet facilities and disabled access.

The plan sparked anger amongst some local residents, as it would require the felling of a veteran beech tree as well as 10 others.

In a statement, Dame Judi said: “I fully support the campaign to protect the veteran tree in Ripon, along with the other healthy urban trees under threat.

“As an ambassador for The Woodland Trust, which rightly views veteran trees as a priority, as they are irreplaceable habitat, I hope a solution can be found to protect this conservation area.”

Dame Judi, whose many films include Shakespeare in Love and Skyfall, has been an ambassador for the charity since 2011.

More than 2,700 people have signed a petition protesting against the felling of the trees, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The Very Rev John Dobson, Dean of Ripon, previously said: “No one takes a decision to cut down a tree lightly, but we believe this new development will bring a wide range of benefits to the city.

“We are planting 14 trees around the development and a further 300 on land which has been made available to us at Studley, as well as increasing the biodiversity of the green space created.”

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