Felling of The Newnes Oak. A 250-year-old veteran tree, Ellesmere, Shropshire
The felling of the veteran oak tree known as The Newnes Oak, a 250-year-old (English Oak) (Quercus robur ) occurred on the morning of 15th August 2023 on land belonging to Grocott Developments, Prees Ltd. As of 23rd Feb 2024 Forestry Commission England (Forest Services) investigation is on-going. The author was alerted to the felling by a concerned local resident whose property overlooks the 6.4 Ha (16-acre) field in which the oak stood. The veteran oak was the only tree standing in this sizeable field. There are several hedgerow trees, and a Business Park adjoins the field.
On the day of the launch of Tree of the Year 2023...this happened
To enable dialogue to take place with contractors at the scene, the author met with them on-site as they dismantled the oak. He was informed that the tree would be removed from the site the next day.
Photographs and video were freely shot at the scene. No requests to cease were made. The author did not take photographs of the contractor's faces or company truck.
When contacted by the author, the Managing Director of Grocott Developments Ltd explained that there were no current planning applications for this field/site. The author noted that at the northern end of the field, a mechanical digger was on site, as were a number of persons in high-vis attire. By the field gate, soil-sample bags were stacked in a pile.
When contacted, Grocott Developments Ltd's managing director spent over ten minutes extolling the environmental and charitable virtues of Grocott Developments. Also, their attention to sustainability and their actions as a company showing they [Quote 'did not pay lip service to such issues.'] When asked as to just why this significant veteran oak was felled, he declined to answer. The author is unsure if there was a professional and fully qualified tree report completed for this tree. ie, one undertaken by a VetCert qualified arboriculturist specialising in veteran and ancient trees. The author also assumes that any Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) implications will be taken into account by Shropshire Council if any planning applications for the site arise. BNG is an approach to development, and/or land management, that aims to leave the natural environment in a measurably better state than it was beforehand. Visit Govt./DEFRA here for further details... > BNG Explained
Naturally hollowed out oak with PLENTY of sap wood remaining
©Mike Coburn The Newnes Oak The oak tree had no Tree Preservation Order attached to it, as was confirmed by the author after chatting with the Shropshire Council Tree Officer manager whilst the author was on site. There was also no Forestry Commission felling licence in place. However, subsequent advice to the author made it clear that the size and bulk of the veteran oak tree may have meant that it contravened the Forestry Commission's (FC) Felling Licence regulations regarding their 5 cubic metres of timber regulations.
The exact measurements of the prone oak were later taken on-site and forwarded to the West Midlands Forestry Commission (FC) office. On 22nd August 2023, an FC officer visited the site. The oak tree had been removed by this time. As of 23rd February 2024, the Forestry Commission (Forest Services) investigation is ongoing.
How to assess a planning application when there are ancient woodland, ancient trees or veteran trees on or near a proposed development site.
Paragraph 180 c) of the NPPF states that 'development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats (such as ancient woodland and ancient or veteran trees) should be refused unless there are wholly exceptional reasons and a suitable compensation strategy exists.
Childhood Memories This veteran oak tree is a tree of the authors' childhood. Children from the adjacent housing estates would venture across the playing fields, wade across The Newnes Brook, and venture across the open farmland on adventurous childhood play. One child even worked for the then-farm owner at Newnes Farm. Like many towns across the UK, the brook and fields formed a significant part of many people's childhoods. With this in mind, you can imagine the distress of losing such a significant veteran oak tree and the loss of part of one's childhood, too.
The author is a volunteer local Tree Warden for Ellesmere under the Tree Council's Tree Warden scheme.[He has no official powers and is NOT a qualified arboriculturist]
Carl Wynne copyright
Copyright Mike Coburn