A review has begun looking at a council's decision to approve plans to redevelop the site of a former zoo.
Bristol City Council approved the plans to build 196 homes, a café, playground and conservation hub on Bristol Zoo's Clifton site after it closed in 2022.
A group of residents have opposed the plans – citing concerns over a potential loss of bio-diversity and green space – and fears that public access to the site's historic gardens are not guaranteed.
"We really need spaces where people can enjoy and take a respite from the city and there are vanishingly few of them," said Carrie Sage, co-founder of Save Bristol Gardens Alliance.
"It's completely the wrong plan for the wrong site and many trees will be cut down as a result as they add car parking and a road through the gardens as a result."
Fellow co-founder of the Save Bristol Gardens Alliance, Alastair Sawday, added: "The importance of green spaces in cities is going to become ever more relevant in the years to come so to have a 12 acre walled garden with so many amazing trees and herbaceous borders that is going to get tarmacked over is just wrong."
Under the current proposals – 80 of the 218 trees currently on the site would be removed – with 44 of those replanted and 470 new ones planted.
