AS I enjoyed a stroll through High Street on a beautiful sunny day, and saw fellow shoppers enjoying the shade provided by the mature trees that now grace our centre, my thoughts turned to an article I read in the Evening News that suggested the city Forum wanted to change High Street.

Many of the suggestions put forward by the Forum were excellent but alarm bells started ringing when I read that the trees obscured the buildings.

Maybe I cannot see the finer points the experts see in the High Street buildings. The only ones I rate are the Cathedral, Guildhall.

Frankly, the trees compliment them. Surely it is preferable to see a street lined with trees rather than denuded of them?

Protection order

St John's centre is experiencing a similar problem. More than 100 mature trees grow on Swanpool, some so lovely that they were recently given a protection order, including three stately scots pines.

Then Sainsbury plan was produced and surprise, surprise the pines have got to be cut down to make way for more parking on the site. The planners called it disappointing but did not oppose the destruction!

Trees are precious and take long to mature. They not only provide visual pleasure but are home for many small mammals and birds. They are the lungs of the city.

I would say do what you will to improve High Street. But woodman spare those trees!

JOE WALTER, Worcester.