A GROUP of residents have acted swiftly to save a beloved oak tree after seeing it being assessed for felling by a group of officials.

Residents on the Meldon Fields estate have christened the tree ‘Old Oakey’ and are fighting to see off the chainsaws with a Tree Preservation Order (TPO).

Resident Paul Gillard, who lives in Kellands Lane, put in a request to West Devon Borough Council (WDBC) after spotting a group of men assessing the mature tree in the hedgerow on Crediton Road several weeks ago.

‘I saw four men with clipboards standing by the tree and so I went over, politely said hello and asked if the tree was likely to stay or come down,’ he said.

‘One of the guys said “yep, that tree will have to come down, because it is past its best”. Then he said “in any case, you have got your little trees over there” pointing over to our estate. I didn’t even respond to that comment because it seemed so dismissive.’

He lost no time in emailing WDBC and requesting a TPO. After alerting his neighbours several more of them followed suit and WDBC has now made an order.

It means that no one can fell or lop branches off the tree without permission from the council. However, residents remain on alert as there is a period of 28 days when anyone can appeal the order.

Resident Joanne Poore, who lives in Broom Park, opposite the oak tree, said: ‘I am just so worried, I have been listening out for chainsaws.

‘The tree is just over the road from my house and it is such a stunning, commanding tree. It is part of the reason why I chose this house. It would be devastating to lose it. It is a huge part of the landscape and it would leave a hole if it wasn’t there.

‘We do need to look after our big trees. They are important because there are so many birds around here and they do their dawn chorus in the tree. The sun sets behind it. It is totally magical. Most of the residents here feel very strongly about the tree.’

Developer Redrow is due to start work soon on a development on Romansfield, a development of three and four-bedroom houses on a site next to the field with the oak tree.

A spokesperson for the developer, though, told the Times that any plans for felling the tree were nothing to do with them. ‘The oak tree in question is outside of the development so not under Redrow-owned land,’ she said.

West Devon Borough councillor Annabel Roberts, lead member for Customer First, said: ‘I can confirm that a Tree Preservation Order was served on the landowner regarding the Turkey Oak opposite Broom Park on the B3215 last week following numerous requests from members of the public.’