23 December 2009
A MAJESTIC 350-year-old oak tree in Steep was chopped down just hours after a deal was struck to save it.
Shocked villagers looked on in horror as contractors reneged on an agreement to save the landmark oak, which has stood in Ashford Chace since the time of Oliver Cromwell, by clambering up into the highest branches and hacking it down last Tuesday afternoon.
Protestors standing underneath the canopy were forced to take cover when it became clear tree surgeons had no regard for their safety, as parts of the tree came crashing to the ground.
Police were called amid confrontational scenes between villagers and contractors, before the residents were forced to watch helplessly as the oak was systematically dismantled.
Ashford Hangers Preservation Society tree warden Drake Hocking said: “They started off carefully and slowly and then sometime in the middle of the day they changed tack and started butchering it.
“They did not stop.
“It was tragic and the village is now in shock.”
The oak tree is situated on the Hangers Way and forms part of the right of way for a new four-bedroom house, built by Rolls Royce’s head of human resources Avery Duff and wife Elfrida of Empshott Green.
They intend to turn the site where the oak tree stood into a straight tarmac drive for their property.
The tree was considered rotten by East Hampshire District Council’s arbocultural team, so was not protected by a tree preservation order.
Mr Hocking explained an agreement had been thrashed out on Monday evening with the Duff’s contractors Pegasus Builders, which stated it would only remove about a third of the tree.
However, the promise was broken within 24 hours.
“It appears the Duff’s architect went over the head of the contractor and insisted the tree should be cut,” he said.
Kate Burke, of Ashford Chace, said: “It is shocking, absolutely shocking.
“I am so upset about it and the way the situation has been handled.
“I cannot understand how some people can have such disregard for the countryside.
“If it had been a different owner or a different arbicultural officer at the council then I think the outcome would have been very different.”
She added when she went to inspect the tree after it was felled, the rot inside was only the size of her cupped hands.
“As a proportion of the whole circumference of the tree, it was nothing,” Mrs Burke said.
“It is so, so sad.”
Another angered resident, Jessica Pocock, said: “I think I can speak for all those present when I say that we have all been truly shaken and appalled by the crass and disdainful attitude displayed to to the people of Steep, many of whom tried to negotiate with the Duffs for over two years, and to the magnificent oak tree, which has been felled for no good reason.
“We did consider taking up a stance again to try and prevent the work being done, but in truth, we have no chance of stopping such ruthless behaviour, and the strain of the last few days has been considerable.”
On Monday a sign was placed beside the tree which quoted the famous war poet Edward Thomas, who lived in Steep 100 years ago.
It read: “In the sun and in the snow, there are no more sins to be sinned on the dead oak tree bough.”
Avery Duff was unavailable for comment when The Post went to press.