We all love trees, and those on the Elmwood Campus are a wonderful natural asset for our town. Fife Council is proposing a Tree Preservation Order to help protect the trees on the campus … and this is a call for all to support the TPO.

Please give a few minutes of your time to write a short letter to Fife Council BEFORE 2nd September to help demonstrate the strong local support for Elmwood’s trees and the proposed TPO.

The Order relates to a whole collection of trees including …

• Beech
• Birch
• Blue Atlas Cedar
• Cappadocicum Maple
• Cherry
• Copper Beech
• Crack Willow
• Dawn Redwood
• Field Maple
• Giant Redwood
• Grey Poplar
• Hornbeam
• Italian Alder
• Katsura
• Northern Red Oak
• Norway Maple
• Paper Bark Birch
• Silver Birch
• Small-leaf Lime
• Swamp Cypress
• Sycamore
• Turkish Hazel
• Variegated Norway Maple
• Western Red Cedar

The Order is made in order to protect the trees and ensure their continued existence as it forms an important feature in the landscaping and makes a significant contribution to the visual amenity of the area.

What to do?

Letters must be sent to …

Head of Legal
Fife Council
Finance & Corporate Services
Legal Services
Fife House
North Street
Glenrothes KY7 5LT

It can be a short, personal letter giving your support. Something along these lines but in your own words and with your own reasons …

Ref: Tree Preservation Order No. 1, 2026

I write in support of the Tree Preservation Order on the Elmwood Campus to ensure the trees’ continued existence as an important feature in the town’s landscaping. 

Please then explain why you support the Order: things you might mention in your own words …

• • • Leisure: a well-used community amenity – especially for those accessing the leisure facilities and rugby club; people walk their dogs and use the area for recreation and exercise. Neighbouring Duffus Park is particularly important for children’s sport, clubs and activities, much of which is organised and supported by local volunteers.
    • Education: the educational value of the trees and grounds is considerable together with the associated biodiversity and wildlife habitat; Bell Baxter High School pupils use and pass through the area – making the green space and mature trees part of the everyday environment for local children and young people.
    • Wellbeing: the trees and green space contribute to people’s wellbeing and enjoyment of the area; the large mature trees are an important, distinctive and historic part of the landscape and character of Cupar and have a heritage value of the mature specimens – as well as including memorial trees associated with former staff and students. The Redwoods are listed by the Scottish Redwood Trust.
    • Environmental: the trees have significant environmental value – from carbon storage to their role in absorbing water and helping with flood mitigation.

Please accept this letter as giving my support for the TPO. 

Yours sincerely, 

Name, Address & Postcode

Call to action

The established green space – and trees around Elmwood and Duffus Park – is an important, beautiful and historic part of the character and identity of Cupar.

It provides a setting for a wide range of community activities, particularly children’s sport, clubs, recreation and exercise. Retaining this established green space is important not only for the trees themselves, but for the wider network of activities, facilities and community life that takes place here.

Please don’t assume others will write: every individual letter will help to support the TPO.

 

Thank you for reading. 

Please feel free to share with all who may be interested. 

All of our work promoting businesses, community groups, events and local activities is funded by those who subscribe to our support packages. These start at just £200 + VAT for the whole year. Click on this link or the image below for more.