using existing trees?

The house I'm renovating comes with a number of very beautiful and VERY old existing trees.

I'd like to work around this and keep them as they add a lot to the character of the yard, but some people are recommending chopping them all down and starting again.

We're talking moreton bay figs, pandanus, silky oak and camphor laurel. All are quite high up and I'm not sure there are many plants that will grow in the shade beneath such an impressive canopy - any ideas for shaping a block that already has great trees?

J.

I live in Alex Hills and we have many of the same trees in our backyard (as well as a million and 1 palms!).
I would recommend keeping most of them (expensive to get rid of anyway) as they will provide shade for the summer, and also privacy.
I have a few camphor laurels that we will take out as they are pests.

What sorts of plants would you like underneath?
We have a lot of birds nest ferns. I'm wanting to put in clivias as they like shade and have lovely flowers.

"Impressive canopies" don't grow overnight so I sure wouldn't be ripping everything out without thought, but I have heard worrying things about silky oak and camphor laurel. Don't really know about the others.

What macy said is right. Do some research then take any action.

Jocelyn, before you do anything, don't enlist a tree lopper. In fact I'll PM you a contact of someone who isn't in Melbourne now but used to work there while studying Aboriculture (better than a tree surgeon ) He will or may know of someone who will asses the site. It might cost $80-100 but it will be rock solid advice and highly skilled and reliable.

They tree may have features of growth that make it a poor choice to keep.

That sort of stuff is best handled by certified Aborist, not tree loppers.
http://www.treeguild.com/
http://www.treeguild.com/Arborist%20bro ... online.pdf
http://isaac.org.au/
http://www.treesaregood.com/
http://www.treesaregood.org/