Rochford Holt Farm Oak tree dweller prepared to miss Christmas

Campaigners moved in to a tent on a platform amid the branches of Holt Farm Oak Tree in Rochford in a bid to stop it from being axed down.

The mature tree, in Ashingdon Road in Rochford, is set to be felled by developer Bloor Homes to make way for a new road layout after the firm was given permission to build 662 new homes nearby.

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Braving torrential rainstorms, potential legal repercussions and battling through isolation and boredom, one campaigner – who wished to remain anonymous – says they are prepared to miss Christmas at home with their family if they have to.

Tree dweller (Image: Save Holt Farm Oak Tree)

“I am willing to stay as long as it takes to make a difference and it would be an honour to spend Christmas in the tree if it saves lives,” they told the Echo.

Supporters on the ground (Image: Save Holt Farm Oak Tree)

“They’re destroying a beautiful tree in the name of putting yet more traffic on the road.

“The new junction will endanger the children as it’s unsafe and exposes them to more pollution and risk of accident,” they claimed.

Multiple groups have come together to save the tree (Image: Save Holt Farm Oak Tree)

The protester added: “I will stay as long as there is no injunction as I don’t mind getting arrested, going to jail, or being fined, but I fear an injunction could take everything I have.”

The conditions in the tree are not for the faint hearted, as the winter weather begins to bite, the protester says the living situation is “uncomfortable but bearable”.

There is a strong community spirit at the protest (Image: Save Holt Farm Oak Tree)

“The hardest thing about living in the tree is the constant roar of traffic and machinery and the air pollution,” they said.

Volunteers from the Save Holt Farm Oak Tree campaign group stay at the base of the tree 24/7 to ensure the “tree dweller’s” - of which there a several who rotate in and out - safety and comfort.

There are two schools nearby (Image: Save Holt Farm Oak Tree)

A campaign spokesman said: “The plan fills our community with dread and despair and the fact there are people prepared to live in a tree, enduring all the terrible weather we've had lately really highlights how desperate we are to be listened to and how much we want to stop any harm coming to local children, residents and to the tree."

Developer Bloor Homes is preparing a legal case to end the protest with a preliminary hearing set for November 15.

Bloor's response in full

A spokesperson from Bloor Homes said: “It was well documented in our newsletter to stakeholders and residents issued on 14th October that the tree was planned to be removed on Monday 24th October – the first day of half term when the schools would be closed. The partial road closure and fencing off of the tree were always planned for Monday 24th October to enable the works. 

“Due to the arrival of the campaigners on the night of Thursday 20th October, while the schools were still in term time, Essex Police arrived on Friday 21st October and cordoned off the area for the safety of the public. Essex County Council Highways subsequently gave us permission to bring forward the date for the fencing to Friday 21st. We immediately contacted the schools to offer assistance from our security team with the crossing at the end of the school day. 

“With regard to the new junction and pavement layout, we have consulted with both schools throughout the process and will continue to do so. We take the safety of the children and the wider public very seriously and confirm that the new layout includes a number of safety features which are not part of the current design. In addition, the new development includes a dedicated drop off area planned for parents. This will be available for use during the early stages of the development, in support of the schools, parents and children. 

“With regard to the pavement, its design has also been subject to full consultation and approval from Essex County Council Highways. Detailed designs* show a number of safety improvements will be incorporated into the junction layout and design, including 20 metres of pedestrian guard railing and an upgraded Toucan crossing, plus a 2 metre wide refuge island to prevent overtaking in the vicinity of the school.

“Regarding the footway / cycleway, this will be 3.6 metres wide over a length of about 78 metres, to allow for the provision of a right turn lane into the site. Of this 78 metre stretch, at its narrowest point, this would be reduced to around 3.25 metres for a stretch of around 15 metres. At this reduced width, the footway / cycleway exceeds the minimum technical standard for shared footways and cycleways of 3 metres. Meanwhile improved road signage alongside these enhancements will also alert drivers to the potential for school children to be crossing in the area.”