Felling 150-year-old tree 'hypocritical' says head

A head teacher says it would be “hypocritical” to fell a 150-year-old tree on school land when its pupils are “passionate” about the environment.

The 50-foot (15.24m) oak tree stands on the playing field of Thundersley Primary School, Essex.

Insurers have told the school to chop the tree down as its roots may have caused cracks in a neighbouring property.

“We’re at a loss as to how to solve this problem,” head teacher Emma Dawson said.

The tree is older than the school itself, which was founded in 1921.

“Lots of our parents and grandparents have talked about the time they spent underneath that tree,” Ms Dawson told the BBC.

But cracks have now appeared in the conservatory of a residential property which borders the school’s playing field and the school has been told the tree needs to be felled.

“We want to be good neighbours and we don't want to be causing an issue,” Ms Dawson said.

She described how the school’s pupils “are really passionate about the environment”.

“For us to fell this tree seems very hypocritical and I think it would take a long time for those children to forget the sight of a tree disappearing from their grounds,” Ms Dawson added.

School staff said they are also concerned about drainage on the playing field if the tree is removed.

“There's parts of this field that we can't really use over the winter because it does get quite boggy,” Mr English said.

Staff at the school have investigated alternative ways of keeping the tree instead, including installing root barriers under the ground, but say this could cost upwards of £45,000.

“It's absolutely impossible for us,” said Simon English, chairman of the school’s board of governors, who said that refusing to fell the tree could result in court action for the school, as reported in the Echo newspaper.

“We would like to come to an amicable agreement that works for all parties, but we will fight to keep this tree for us as long as we can.”

“We can't justify spending any money on retaining a tree when the educational outcomes of our students have to be our priority,” Mr English added.

LV insurers for the residential property, told the BBC: "We care about sustainability and we recognise that this is a highly emotive issue.

“We always look for solutions that protect our natural and built environment and are looking into this specific case."

A meeting is due to be held later this week between the school and local councillors to discuss the situation.

The BBC has contacted the school’s insurers for comment.

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