Protesters occupy Rochford Oak tree to halt it being chopped down

Campainers have built a wooden platform in an old Oak Tree in Rochford, in a last-minute effort to stop it from being cut down by property developers.

The Oak Tree has been at the centre of fierce opposition from a group of Rochford residents who wanted to prevent developer Bloor Homes from building 662 new homes nearby.

After a lengthly battle, Bloor Homes eventually won permission to build the new homes and they say the mature tree needs to be removed, to make way for a new road layout to give access to the new housing estate.

A spokesperson for ‘Save the Holt Farm Oak Tree’ group said: “Our tree has been occupied. Last night, a small team of dedicated individuals who value life and nature more than profit, have taken direct action.

“They worked for hours to build and install a platform in our Oak Tree and have moved in. Our tree is part of our community, enough is enough.”

Works to remove the tree, including closing one side of Ashingdon Road, are due to take place between Monday 24 and Wednesday 26 October 2022.

A spokesperson for Bloor Homes said: “Despite having all the relevant permissions to safely remove the tree, we are now faced by obstruction from protestors.

“We are speaking with Essex County Council and Rochford District Council as the tree is on Highways land, and through liaison with Essex Police will be considering our next steps.”

Bloor Homes have now contracted four security staff to stand guard around the tree on a 24/7 basis until the work begins to remove it.