Overview

• Contractors removed about 80 mature trees at The Osprey in East Kilbride during site clearance to open the frontage and potentially extend parking.
• Scottish Forestry said no felling permission was in place, opened an investigation, and inspected the location on Monday.
• South Lanarkshire Council confirmed the trees were not covered by tree preservation orders and noted that separate felling consent can be required by Scottish Forestry.
• The Birk family issued a public apology, called the decision insensitive, and said they will consult authorities and a landscape architect while replanting with saplings.
• Residents voiced anger online, East Kilbride MSP Collette Stevenson sought explanations from the council and the owners, and photos showed stumps and machinery at the cleared site.