IT is heartening to read in the Journal (February 12) that the relevant authorities have recognised that the trees planted in Broad Street, Pershore, over a decade ago were the wrong species.

The London plane is certainly an excellent town tree. Despite atmospheric pollution, it flourishes in the wide avenues and broad pavements of London and Paris.

It is long lived and grows to a great height and substantial girth, even when subject to regular pruning.

In the Georgian townscape of Pershore the London plane is quite out of scale.

The wonder is that a dozen years ago the authorities were so ill-informed as to plant them in the first place.

Let us learn from that mistake and plant suitable varieties that will require less maintenance over the years to keep them in scale with the low-rise buildings of Broad Street.

I would nominate a mixture of bird cherry (Prunus padus), of which there are several cutlivars, and hornbeam (Carpinus betulus).

These are both European native species, perform well as street trees, and if left untended have an ultimate height about half that of the London plane.

David Bryden

Pershore