180 year old oak tree to be felled after being targeted with a chainsaw
The tree in Wool is now considered unsafe and will have to be chopped down
A 180 year old oak tree in Dorset has been deliberately damaged with a chainsaw.
Dorset Council say the tree at Lampton Close in Wool has had deep cuts and holes drilled into its trunk.
It's now no longer considered safe and will have to be chopped down.
The tree, which is estimated to be at least 180 years old has been severely damaged, is close to properties, a footpath and the highway and is no longer deemed safe.
Any replacement will take many decades to make up the loss of this important feature, which as a species supports more life than any other native tree species in the UK (source Woodland Trust).
This tree was protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO). TPOs ban the cutting down, uprooting, topping, lopping, wilful damage or wilful destruction of trees without the local authority's consent.
It is a criminal offence and the penalty for carrying out works to TPO trees without consent can result in fines of up to £20,000. Unlimited fines can be handed down in the Crown Court, in the event of serious breaches.
A spokesperson for Dorset Council said:
"Investigations into the two counts of suspected malicious damage to this protected oak firstly on/or before the 8 August 2023 and again on the evening of the 26 August 2023 are ongoing. The council is appealing for information about this."
If you have any information about the damage to this mature oak tree email treeteameast@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk or call 01929 557344 quoting enforcement reference: EN/2023/00354.