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Mindless Destruction of Ancient Willow

On 6 Nov 2020 at 9:43am Jdeardorff wrote:

Hi folks, I'm not usually one for online rants but felt this needed sharing.
My partner and I were taking a walk to visit our favourite Willow tree in Lewes to discover that two of its main limbs have been severely damaged and another Willow tree close by also had limbs splintered and broken. We saw the local young farmer in his blue land rover and flagged him down to ask if he knew anything about what happened, to which he arrogantly replied "it was in my way so I pushed it out the way". We were obviously shocked and angered by this and tried to explain to him the importance for respect of nature, especially such an ancient and beautiful tree to which he replied "its a weed, they grow everywhere". I think his words really tell the story of his disrepect and disconnection with the very land that he works on.
The willow tree is a favoured shady spot for families in the summer and children love climbing its branches and trunk as it has unusually grown sideways. Now the limbs are damaged and dangerous for kids to play on.
I've attached a pic of the damaged tree. The field it is in is close to the river and has plenty of space for the farmer to drive his tractor without the tree "being in his way".
Does anyone know who owns the land? Sorry I cant be more specific with location. Or maybe this is something that can be brought to the attention of the council? My heart says this kind of avoidable destruction of nature should not be gotten away with.

On 6 Nov 2020 at 2:20pm Local99 wrote:

It's not 'gotten'.
You're in England, not the faaackin US.

On 6 Nov 2020 at 3:43pm Nick wrote:

and I think the tree is substantially still there

On 7 Nov 2020 at 8:12am Nevillman wrote:

Confirmation that many farmers see the countryside as theirs to use for their own convenience and profit rather than as something they are managing on behalf of everyone while they earn a living from it.

On 11 Nov 2020 at 7:05pm guido wrote:

Maybe if you don�t know who�s land it is, you shouldn�t be on it in the first place.

On 12 Nov 2020 at 11:23am Nevillman wrote:

Pathetic response guido. The tree was by the side of a public path on malling brooks. Are you suggesting we should only walk on paths crossing land if we know who it belongs to? I'm afraid your response is further confirmation of my point. There should be laws to prevent landowners doing things like this. Maybe you should tell us who the landowner is so that consumers can make a decision to no longer go in his farm shop.

On 14 Nov 2020 at 11:14am Stephen Watson wrote:

Sadly, trees don't have rights, or in most cases effective protection. We live in the Britain in which the 250 yr old Cubbington Pear, Tree of the Year 2015, was felled for HS2 despite a petition of over 20,000 signatures. And then there was whole Sheffield tree saga where large numbers of very loved street trees were unnecessary felled as part of a PFI deal between Amey plc and a Labour council, and protesters were arrested rightly trying to protect the trees in their own streets. A nation in which neither main party gives a toss about its ancient trees is hardly going to bother about a willow, beloved by many, being hacked about by the farmer on whose land it lies.