The small rural community of Lumsden is split over some heritage trees at risk of being chopped down.

Fourteen Lawson Cypress trees planted in the 1890’s on the grounds of the Lumsden Presbyterian Church are standing in the way of progress.

The land owner, Presbyterian Church, sold the 1892 wooden church building and plan to erect a new modern church in its place. 

Reverend Mike Kirkby-Sing has been a minister at the Lumsden Presbyterian Church since 2018.

He says that the decision to sell the old building and build a new one was not made lightly.

“The congregation considered very carefully whether renovating the old church was a feasible option but decided that the best option moving forward was a new building,” he said.

“After several years of conversation and consultation, our congregation decided that our church building was not helping us achieve our purpose. It does not meet the current needs of the congregation with the community, and is not fit for purpose for the future. The worship space lacks the flexibility required for modern use by us and the community, and the kitchen and toilet facilities are inadequate.”  

One of the neighbours who lives near the church in the shade of the trees said they want to see the trees gone and are very disappointed with the turn of events.

“In winter we only get one hour of sun per day. We were all looking forward to having more sunshine,” she said.

The plan for the new building is to be a warm, hospitable, accessible place, where people can gather for worship on a Sunday, and also a multipurpose building that the community can use, with commercial kitchen and meeting room.

“Regrettably as part of the plan for a new building we need to remove the very large trees on the churches property that surround the old building. The trees keep the church in the shade much of the time, making it difficult to heat and keep warm. In order to provide a new building and grounds that are welcoming, warm and safe to use all year round the trees need to be removed,” Rev. Kirkby-Sing said.

The 19th century, 250 square metre building was put up for sale in December 2021, and a Canterbury couple bought it with the intention to move it to Rangiora.

The removal deadline is in December 2022. At least two trees would need to be cut down to give a house removal truck access to the site.

However, a group of passionate locals calling themselves The Lumsden Tree Lovers, are fighting to retain the 130-year-old trees. An on-line petition to save the trees collected 350 signatures, according to the group co-ordinator, Kim Spencer-McDonald. 

“Historic trees like these incredible specimens need to be protected and saved. Currently our local district council does not have in its plan the protection of historic trees. As a group we think this is wrong and that this needs to change. We are here for such a short time and need to see ourselves as caretakers/kaitiaki of our land/whenua, trees/rākau and the biodiversity that lives on and within,” she wrote on a local Facebook page.

An arborist was contracted by the Church to fell four of those trees on Monday, 11 July. The Lumsden Tree Lovers organised a peaceful protest to try and stop their destruction, but no action was necessary, as the arborist pulled out of the job when he heard of the opposition to cutting the trees down.

Asked how far are the Lumsden Tree Lovers prepared to go in order to protect the trees, Spencer-McDonald said “We would prefer a peaceful protest, but things can get out of control when emotions take over.”

Southland District Council (SDC) councillors John Douglas (Mossburn) and Rob Scott (Lumsden) tried to mediate between the two groups at a meeting held last Friday. 

“It was a good opportunity for the parties to have an honest discussion, but the outcome was a stalemate,” Scott said.

“I can see both view points and am trying to be impartial, but didn’t manage to find a golden nugget to solve the problem,” he said.