Sudbury residents angry and upset after long-standing tree felled in Newton Croft

The removal of a long-standing tree, which had been part of Sudbury’s streetscape for over half a century, has caused anger and upset among residents, who believe it should have been protected.

Work to fell a large Corsican pine in Newton Croft began at the end of last week, after permission was granted to the property owner – despite the objections of local tree wardens and nearby homeowners.

The tree, which stood in excess of 20 metres tall, is understood to have been in place behind Chilton Croft Nursing Home for more than 50 years.

However, the Suffolk Tree Wardens Network said they feel that work should not have gone ahead, as they claim the pine had been covered by a tree preservation order (TPO).

This legally-protected status would protect the tree from any deliberate damage or destruction, including felling, lopping, topping and uprooting.

Mary Roberts, a resident of Newton Croft for over two decades, said she was “terribly sad” to see the tree removed, adding that it was often full of bird life, such as owls in the evening.

“I feel, personally, that it perhaps could have been saved,” she told SuffolkNews. “It’s such a beautiful tree and I’m absolutely mortified it has come down.

“I’ve been here for 23 years, and this tree has been part of the wonderful view from my house all that time. It’s very upsetting.”

In response, a spokeswoman for Babergh District Council stated that permission had been granted to the owner of the land where the tree was located, because of growing safety concerns.

“This tree has been part of the local landscape for many years, with a TPO put in place back in 1979,” she said.

“However, as the planning authority, we had no option but to authorise work to remove it, as it was found to be in a hazardous condition and was becoming increasingly dangerous for nearby residents.

“Pines are a fast-growing but relatively short-lived species and, although we looked at how we might be able to reduce it and save it, in the opinion of our arboricultural experts, it simply wasn’t possible.

“We regret the loss of any mature tree, particularly given our efforts to increase biodiversity across our district, and continue to support tree and hedgerow planting across our towns and villages.”