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This article was written by Elen Roberts, a resident concerned about the management of Pembroke Play Area and the decimation of wildlife.

In a recent consultation carried out by Penarth Town Council, Penarth residents expressed a wish to see more planting in the much-loved play area on Pembroke Terrace.

Published on 12 November, it stated that more than half of the respondents would like to see 'more flowers/planting across the site' managed by Penarth Town Council.

However, local residents were astonished on 25th November when the hedge that runs the entire length of the park was cut back right down to the ground.

"We noticed that the entrance to the park had been closed off," said street resident Gareth Clubb.

"Later in the day, we saw that the hedge had been cut right down to the ground. We were really shocked. By December the hedge had been removed completely."

"We were really pleased that the Town Council had run the consultation on the park," added another street resident, David Wilton.

"The results showed clearly that people want to see more greenery here. More planting and flowers scored much more highly than improvements to play equipment even.

"It's clear that nature is important to people. But less than two weeks later the Town Council saw fit to remove the hedge. I just don't understand how that could happen."

Local resident Elen Robert said, "The hedge was 82 feet long, and at the time of cutting, it was about 6.5 feet high and 6.5 feet deep.

"We reckon that's almost 75% of all the trees and shrubs in the park! That's a huge amount.

"It's a completely shocking response to the consultation Penarth Town Council published less than two weeks prior. I'm absolutely heartbroken, to tell you the truth."

"Apart from the matter of going against the clear results of the consultation, the ecological impact should not be underestimated," said local resident and ecologist Dr Eleanor Kean.

"Trees and hedges are vital for drawing down carbon and providing oxygen. Also, a large, mature hedge like the Pembroke Terrace play area one, can be home to thousands of insects. They, along with the hedge, have been killed.

"The hedge cannot easily be replaced – mature hedges take many years to grow. We know that insect populations have been plummeting. We need to do all we can to protect them now."

But people knew and loved the hedge mostly for the birds that used to sing and chatter in it. "They really were a pleasure to watch and listen to. Bird song is so uplifting," said Eleanor, whose young children like to play in the park. "The birds have now lost their habitat too. It's a huge loss."

Local residents have sought a response from Penarth Town Council. "They said that there were health and safety concerns, but didn't go into detail," said Elen Robert.

"Health and safety is really important, of course. But as street residents and parents of young children, we've never found the hedge to be a health and safety risk, so we really don't understand. We have been trying to set up a meeting with them to find out more."

"Really, we cannot imagine a bigger health and safety risk than climate change and biodiversity collapse. Removing the hedge doesn't seem to be addressing these huge existential threats at all. We know a hedge is a mere drop in the ocean. But that's exactly what makes an ocean – billions and billions of tiny drops."

Nub News has received a full statement from a Penarth Town Council spokesperson in response to the article.

"Penarth Town Council understands residents' concerns about this much loved park and its biodiversity. Ongoing health and safety assessments of this park identified that the large hawthorn hedge presented an issue in close proximity to young children's play equipment. The Town Council is undertaking a redevelopment of the park, of which the consultation is an important step. As part of this redevelopment, the Council has removed this identified risk, to be replaced by new planting, more appropriate to a play area. Officers and local ward Members will be meeting with residents to discuss the next stage of planting and redevelopment."