A battle is brewing over plans to chop down a massive 700-year-old tree - used to spy on King Charles I's army. The ancient oak was used a lookout by Parliamentary 'Roundhead' forces to secretly watch Royalist armies during the English Civil War in April, 1643.
But plans to replace the ancient 'King’s Spy Oak' in Caversham, Berkshire, with a three-bed house have been submitted. Despite the oak having a Tree Preservation Order, plans submitted by Chair Homes describe the potential felling as "diseased" and of "relatively significant ecological merit".
The company says they would replace the oak with two new trees - though plans have already been met with massive opposition from local residents. One local resident, Emma Bennett, says that a rotting oak tree like this one is "a vital and increasingly rare eco-system".
In her objection, posted on Reading Council's planning portal, she says that very few trees such as the King's Spy Oak are left in Britain and can support up to 1,800 invertebrate species. She also says claims that the tree is in decline due to 'heart rot' are misleading - as it can take up to 100 years or more for the tree to die.
She added: "Current government guidelines state ‘you should refuse planning permission if development will result in the loss or deterioration of ancient trees and veteran trees unless there are wholly exceptional reasons’; which is clearly not the case here. One new house cannot be worth the felling of such a rare and important veteran tree.”
Fellow objector Jennifer Leach said: “The ancient tree standing on this site is exceptional – historically, ecologically, and in terms of statuesque beauty. It would be an act of vandalism if it were to be felled for any reason; to be felled in order to make way for a highly unimaginative private dwelling squeezed into a small garden, would be the epitome of greed.
“Greed was never pretty; in end times such as these, it has become ecocidal.”
Local biodiversity group Reading Tree Wardens have also objected to the plans, while The Woodland Trust are also apparently planning to submit an objection. A spokesperson for Reading Tree Wardens said: “Reading Tree Wardens strongly object to the application to build a house in a way which would result in the loss of this ancient and historic 700 year old English Oak.
“The tree holds a Tree Preservation Order and is recognised by The Woodland Trust in their Ancient Tree Inventory, also having the special designation of a Tree of National Special Interest. Ancient trees are exceptionally valuable as very few trees of any species become ancient.
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“They are irreplaceable – nothing can compensate for their loss which cannot be mitigated by replacement tree planting. By their very nature, ancient trees have areas of decay and hollowing, this only goes to enhance their biodiversity and habitat value.
“The vast response to the Reading Tree Wardens’ information campaign indicate that it is considered a National Treasure.”
