Park cherry trees saved

CHERRY trees in the King George V dog park will not be removed by Melksham Town Council. 

Dog owners had raised concerns that the cherry trees in the dog recreation area posed a health risk to their dogs – the pits, stems, and leaves contain cyanide, and can be poisonous and potentially lethal if consumed in high enough quantities by dogs. 

In response to the concerns, the town council temporarily closed the dog park whilst it considered options. One idea proposed was to remove the trees and replace them with ‘dog friendly’ alternatives. However, the news that the trees were to be cut down sparked anger in the community, with some claiming that the risk to dogs had been exaggerated. 

Other ideas proposed included fencing off the trees within the dog park, or moving the perimeter fencing to exclude the trees from the area. 

At a meeting of the asset management and amenities committee last week, cllr Graham Ellis called for the risk to dogs be ‘put in context’. He said, “I went through dog poisons and what kills your dogs – and what vets see – and cherries were not even in the top ten.” 

Cllr Jon Hubbard added, “We’ve got cherry trees in Shurnhold Fields, are we going to shut Shurnhold Fields now? We need to get a sense of proportion on all of this.” 

Cllr Hubbard then proposed that the dog park be reopened as soon as possible, with signs at the entrance, warning dog owners of the presence of cherry trees and their risk, to allow dog owners to make an informed choice before entering the area. 

Councillors unanimously agreed with the proposal. 

“Common sense had prevailed!” said cllr Hubbard. 

The dog park has now reopened with temporary signs warning dog owners of the risk to dogs from cherries. According to the Veterinary Poisons Information Service, the risk of cyanide poisoning in dogs from ingestion of cherries is ‘small’. 

At last week’s meeting, the council was set to discuss a proposal to install a double gated entrance/holding area in the dog park, following calls from dog owners for a safe entrance to the area. However, discussions were postponed due to the cherry tree debate. It is expected that councillors will debate the issue at the next asset management and amenities committee meeting in August.