Historic cedar tree saved from the chop for now by villagers
AN historic cedar tree in Mickleton which faced the chop has been saved by people power when villagers turned out in force to prevent tree surgeons cutting down the 140-year-old public treasure.
The tree’s future looks more secure after Cotswold District Council slapped a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) on the cedar last week which means no chopping or pruning can take place without council permission.
It came as a complete shock to residents when tree surgeons suddenly turned-up on the morning of Monday 22nd August without any prior notice and started cutting down parts of the tree
but villagers rallied and forced the work to stop by gathering in their numbers around the base of the tree; their ranks swelled by a chain reaction of messages to each other on social media and the first-class efforts of village postie – Steve Brighton – who knocked on doors and urged residents to join the protest on Cedar Road where the tree stands.
Bromford Housing Association own the land where the much-loved cedar tree is situated and recently commissioned a tree inspection which found fungus in the tree’s roots but residents say they were not informed about Bromford’s intention to cut the tree down.
Last Friday, Bromford issued the following statement.
Dave Grinter, associate director of localities at Bromford said: “Our decision to fell the tree at Cedar Road, which at the time did not have a Tree Protection Order on it, was based on an independent inspection report which found fungal decay in the roots of the tree, potentially making it unsafe.
“We do understand residents’ concerns at our decision and in light of their comments we agreed to carry out another independent inspection of the tree in the next few weeks. We will use the results of this to determine the future of the tree, in collaboration with the local authority’s planning team.”
Reacting to the Bromford statement, Mickleton resident, Sarah Stinchcombe, said:
“I think there already was an inspection carried out and it said that the tree was safe and an inspection last week suggested there was nothing wrong with the tree. The tree means a lot to the older generation in the village. It’s just such a waste of a natural tree. Even if we planted a new tree tomorrow nobody we know in the village is going to see it get to the stage this tree is at now.”
For the older generation the tree holds many fond childhood memories.
Resident Jane Tye, aged 75, has lived in Mickleton all her life and knows the cedar tree very well because it was at end of her parent’s garden. She and her brothers and sisters used to climb up the tree for fun all though due to her tender years, Jane often had to be lifted on to the first branch.
“Even when I was little the tree is as big as it is now and was always known as the cedar tree. It would be wicked if they pull the tree down and it would be another thing missing from the village. When we found out about the tree being cut down we all went to the scene to help save the tree,” Jane said.
One member of the public who negotiated with the tree surgeons to stop work on the Monday morning was Cotswold District Councillor, Tom Stowe, ward member for Campden and Vale who joined residents and then pledged to pursue the TPO for the cedar which has now been granted.
On the Tuesday - the following day - he met up with a tree officer from Cotswold District Council who carried out an inspection and according to Cllr Stowe, “the tree ticked all the boxes for a Tree Preservation Order.”
“The officer’s report concluded the cedar tree was a mature specimen, seemingly in good condition and recommended it be protected by a TPO. It’s not guaranteeing the future of the tree and Bromford were perfectly within their rights to remove the tree but they can’t carry out any work without prior approval,” Cllr Stowe said.
A rapid sequence of events over a matter of days has ended in victory for the villagers who now appreciate their cedar tree even more than before.
A Cotswold District Council spokesperson said: “Trees are an integral part of our Cotswold landscapes, towns and villages and we will protect them whenever it’s appropriate and possible. Permission for works are required for most works to trees protected by a Tree Preservation order (TPO). We were made aware of works on the cedar without a TPO tree at Mickleton and a request was made for us to assess the tree to ascertain its suitability to apply a TPO.
“The tree was assessed by the tree officers and deemed worthy of a TPO. The TPO protecting the tree was made on Tuesday 30th August 2022. Site Notices about the TPO have been put on the tree and on a telegraph pole close to the tree. The owners and other interested parties will be served with a Notice and copy of the TPO by post or by email.
“This means anyone wanting to undertake most works on this tree will need to apply for consent to do so to Cotswold District Council in the first instance. Although the TPO is made and the tree is protected, the council must confirm the TPO within six months of it being made.”
