'We need to save trees and not chop them down without good reason'
A demo was today held to save a 200 year old Oak tree, following a row with an insurance firm
Last updated 16th Jul 2025
Campaigners in Devon today staged a demo to stop an insurance firm chopping down a young disabled child's favourite tree.
The 200 year old oak in Exmouth is known locally as 'Redd's Tree', after the non-verbal child who likes to sit below it.
Dad Scott Taylor Cantrill doesn't believe the tree is causing the home's subsidence issues and more than 800 people have signed a petition against the tree order - with 97 formal objections.
He said: "After three years of investigations by LV and loss adjusters, they have failed to prove any tree roots are responsible.
"Most insurance companies blame trees for subsidence. In reality, the majority of subsidence claims are down to silt clay, and as in our case, our home also has poor 1920’s inadequate foundations."
The planning application, which is due to be decided next month, can be found here
A spokesperson at Allianz UK, which owns and operates LV=General Insurance, said: “Subsidence is a widely known issue in the home insurance market and occurs when the ground beneath a building sinks, pulling the property’s foundations down with it.
"In order for us to complete long-term repairs we need to ensure that the property has stopped moving before we complete any works, which can take time to monitor.
"Trees can exacerbate subsidence due to the roots drawing moisture from the soil, especially during dry periods. In areas prone to subsidence, tree removal may be necessary to mitigate these risks and protect buildings from potential damage.
“Our buildings experts have surveyed the property and confirmed that an oak tree is causing the damage to the policyholder’s home. Although removing the tree is considered the best option, we understand the policyholder’s concerns about removing it and the importance of trees to the environment.
“Our experts are considering alternative options to resolve the problem without removing the tree but some of this is dependent upon the level of movement during the summer months.”
The spokesperson also added: "We considered a range of alternatives, each of which has pros and cons. These include reducing the size of the tree, installing a root barrier, underpinning the property’s foundations and injecting resin into subsoil to help it support the property. After considering all the options, we recognise some of the options may be less intrusive but wouldn’t add a long term solution or would require the customer to routinely maintain, which we don’t feel is appropriate."
The campaign to save Redd's Tree can be found here