Perth and Kinross Council has been criticised for launching an appeal for pictures of historic trees two weeks after giving the green light to plans to chop down an ancient pine at Perth Academy.
The local authority’s public relations department issued a request for pictures which could go on display at the city’s art gallery as part of an exhibition which “celebrates the woods, forests and estates of Perthshire”.
Councillors recently decided to fell a 250-year-old pine at Perth Academy to make way for a plastic sports pitch, despite receiving a 500-signature petition against the plans from pupils.
Students also held a demonstration against the decision to destroy the tree, which has come to be regarded as a memorial to young brothers Callum and Ethan Owen, who died in a road accident with their mother, Michelle, in 2009.
The Big Tree Roots exhibition features photographs of Perthshire trees taken by Magnus Jackson between 1860 and 1890.
A council spokeswoman said: “Members of the public are now being invited to submit their own tree or woodland image taken in big tree country for inclusion in the exhibition.”
Chairman of Perth Civic Trust Sandy Bremner described the appeal as a “macabre joke”.
He said: “It is an understatement of major proportions to say it is ironic that a tree appreciated by the community for many generations, thought worthy of saving by many, should be under threat at the same time as an exhibition to honour such trees is taking place.
“The only thing which could possibly be more ironic would be if a photograph of the tree at the academy was submitted, won first prize and the prize was being presented while the tree was being chopped up for firewood.”
Councillor Callum Gillies, who sits on the council’s environment committee and Perth and Kinross Quality of Life Trust, was also an outspoken critic of plans to fell the tree.
He said: “I don’t think anyone should complicate it by bringing the exhibition into it. The tree at Perth Academy is a separate issue.
“It is a significant tree, 250 years old, and if people want to take pictures of it that’s fine by me.
“I think the exhibition is great and it’s possible they will get a lot of pictures of the tree at the academy.”
Sandy Bremner again urged the council to shelve plans to chop down the tree, which towers over the school playground.
He added: “Surely the council, after showing such a welcomed approach to saving the trees of Perthshire, must look again at the position of the sports field and make the adjustments necessary to provide the sports field and safeguard this iconic tree.”
Mr Bremner said that he had no interest in hampering the sporting ambitions of pupils at the school.
He stressed: “I would like to repeat that those of us interested in saving the tree do not wish to deprive the pupils of Perth Academy of a new sports field our interest is only in saving the tree.”
A spokeswoman for Perth and Kinross Council declined to comment. Images of trees should be emailed to museum@pkc.gov.uk, with Big Tree Roots in the subject header.
If you plan to submit a photograph of the ancient tree at Perth Academy, please also email your image to perth@thecourier.co.uk.