Protesters have occupied a veteran oak tree in Somerset in a desperate bid to prevent it from being torn down as part of a major road-building scheme.

Work started in September 2021 on a £250M scheme to dual the A303 between the Podimore and Sparkford roundabouts, following approval by transport secretary Grant Shapps MP earlier in the year.

As part of the approved scheme, put forward by National Highways, an elderly oak tree near the Sparkford roundabout will be cut down to make room for a new slip road connecting the new dual carriageway to the nearby Hazlegrove Prep School.

Protesters surrounded the tree on Thursday (July 21), camping underneath it and up in its branches in a bid to convince National Highways to move the slip road and leave what has become dubbed ‘the Queen Camel oak’ in place.

Simon Be, one of the main protesters, has posted numerous updates to his Twitter feed since the protest began.

He said: This tree’s stood watch over this land for 600 years. National Highways England has deliberately misrepresented its age and size in order to avoid it’s legal obligations.

“Those here are all willing to get arrested by resisting non-violently.”

The protest has attracted the support of Extinction Rebellion and BBC Springwatch presenter Chris Packham.

Mr Packham tweeted on Thursday (July 21): This is a magnificent tree . It’s beautiful. It’s important, precious, a treasure.

“It needs to be cherished. Please National Highways, rethink this . It will never be replaced.”

 

 

The protestors made an appeal to the High Court to secure the tree’s future, which was supported by deputy mayor of Glastonbury Indra Donfrancesco – but this proved unsuccessful.

The group has remained at the site ever since pending their eviction by bailiffs.

Mr Be said on Sunday (July 24): “Our climbers are back in action and we are busy preparing for eviction as well as welcoming visitors to this mighty oak.

“Our biodiversity in Britain is plummeting; we need to resist yet more needless destruction.”

National Highways stated that their own assessment of the Queen Camel oak had estimated it to be “around 400-450 years old”, and that it was not subject to any form of protection order.

Moving the slip road was considered during the planning process, but officers this would have resulted in the scheme being “severely delayed” and attempts to move the tree were not viable.

The agency said it was committed to planting new trees to prevent biodiversity being lost from the A303 scheme, and that removing the tree was always “a last resort”.

A spokesman said: “We respect the right to protest and will work with police and all relevant authorities, and those protesting, to ensure everyone is safe.

“We take our environmental responsibilities very seriously and are one of the largest tree planting organisations in the UK, with plans to plant an extra 3 million trees by 2030.

“We only cut back or fell trees where it is essential to keep people safe, protect the environment or where it is necessary to allow us to improve journeys.

“Where we plan to remove old trees on the A303 Sparkford scheme, we have made sure to investigate other possibilities to see if we can avoid removal. Sadly, that was not possible on this occasion.

“We continue to work with ecologists and other specialists to make sure our environmental mitigations are as thorough and beneficial as possible.”