Hello everyone.

“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, (…)I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” F Scott Fitzgerald.

It's been a while since I've written to you. I am amazed to say it has now been six months since Old King George’s original execution date of the 13-15th January that this petition addresses. Half a year has passed, we've moved from the bitter cold of winter, through spring and into now the height of summer. There are now nearly 5,000 of you here who have signed in support of this campaign. And Old King George still stands proud, full of 'great bursts of leaves', while we await news on his fate.

Recap of recent events

For anyone needing a refresh on what's happened of late. The community funded independent expert report looking at the circumstances of Old King George and nearby properties was circulated with relevant parties, including Aviva and Wivenhoe Town Council on the 31st March. This report (available here) found shortcomings with the analysis undertaken by Aviva and Innovation Group Ltd, while also finding a complex and unique circumstance to the ground condition in the vicinity. Underpinning was recommended to offer the most suitable solution in these circumstances, something we know to have also taken place elsewhere along the affected terrace presumably addressing similar issues. Further investigation has subsequently to the report's release found that the tree is actually older than previously thought, with our Dendrochronologist finding George to very likely be at least 170 years old! This news has of course been shared with relevant parties.

Since the distribution of the report, there have been occasional exchanges with Aviva and WTC via email, which have been cordial although not detailed in any way to really understand how the report has been received. I take some hope from the impression that it does appear the report has been taken seriously and the situation being reviewed, but as yet no meeting nor confirmation on what the verdict is on the fate of the trees. I am somewhat expectant that news will come soon, as unfortunately the splendour of our current time of greenery and undisturbed enjoyment of the trees is likely to be protected by it being nesting season (Feb-end of Aug typically). Undertaking felling works at this time of year is not recommended so as to not disturb nesting birds or bats and run the risk of committing a wildlife crime. So while it's still summer and the leaves are bounteous and green, I start to look to autumn and the uncertainty of the months that lie ahead with some trepidation.

At the end of May, the Coat of Hopes visited Wivenhoe to see Old King George. The coat was exhibited at the Old Grocery gallery alongside a replica made by the children of both of Wivenhoe’s Primary schools. This was a pleasant moment to reflect on the community spirit behind the campaign to save Old King George and to come together to express our hopes in relation to the environment more widely. I was moved by the drawings the children produced, about trees, yes, but also pandas, snakes, nature in a broad sense and world peace. Maybe some of those children will have seen from the tree campaign that it is possible to play a part in influencing change. I do hope so.

There has been some concern in recent weeks about structural movement in the railway wall not far from properties on Clifton Terrace. There is a large crack that has formed and a section of the wall is leaning towards the railway track to an increasingly alarming extent. This is not in any way considered connected to our beloved trees given the significant distance, this is giving rise to further thought that there might be other movements relating to the railway line and wider ground condition in the area that are affecting properties. Network Rail, Aviva and WTC have all been notified and Network Rail are due to undertake works to repair the affected wall in the next few months. We have also sought expert opinion on this movement and whether it is indeed connected to movement on Clifton Terrace in some way. This could suggest again that felling the trees may not solve the complex issues in this particular setting.

We have also been quietly working to seek help from others, including by reaching out to higher powers, including Mary Creagh who is Minister for Nature, Sir Bernard Jenkins our local MP and most recently Angela Rayner. Rayner, as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government who have ability to look at the decision to not grant a TPO for Old King George. We have also highlighted concerns more generally for how the planning system is failing communities and nature, through the TPO system and more widely not appreciating the value of trees and nature.

Our story is part of a national scandal

We have seen many similar stories in the press and a building consensus that the system is not working as British people would like following the shocking cases of the Enfield Oak and Sycamore Gap. Just this last week, the BBC has shared shocking statistics in a damning article that more than 1,400 trees that had TPOs had been felled in just 10 councils jurisdictions between 2019-2024. To put this into context, the UK has 317 councils, so the number of trees with TPOs that have been felled is likely to be significantly higher. What about trees like ours without any TPO, what's the headcount of those? As part of the article, the BBC reported "A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Spokesperson said applications to address tree-related subsidence damage must be supported by appropriate information, with other factors eliminated as far as possible". In our case, there is belief that other factors are not yet eliminated and that therefore felling the trees would not yet be appropriate. I would recommend reading the BBC's article in full. 

Communities like ours across the country are however doing their best to seek better outcomes. A case study that has given some inspiration to us all is that of Farnham, where insurer Direct Line is now planning to install a root barrier rather than fell six trees. Direct Line notably are now owned by Aviva.  Suella Braverman been reported as a champion for this group of trees, with the BBC reporting that “Ms Braverman previously said insurance firms in general were "taking advantage" of councils' liability. The Fareham and Waterlooville MP and former Home Secretary said: "Insurance companies have pressured local authorities into felling perfectly healthy trees with Tree Preservation Orders at the first point of contact."

 It is in my view really not fair that communities like ours become a place of disagreement and upheaval over this sort of matter. So much time and effort has been put in by so many of our community seeking a better outcome for people and nature alike. Ultimately a much wealthier entity in Aviva holds so much of the power.  It's their bottom line that has restricted solution finding - underpinning is undeniably more expensive than felling trees (which I believe never sat on their accounts anyway, being undertaken by the council). I hope that in the future these disputes are managed by a system more akin to that of the Party Wall Act or perhaps the Heritage system for listed buildings, to safeguard small town councils and communities like ours from being put in this predicament by significant commercial interests. Alas, we are where we are and we are doing what we can within the bounds of the current system I suppose for our Old King George.

It has been disappointing for me and many involved in the campaign to see at points how the situation has been handled here, including by the council at times. I am aware that complaints have been raised with multiple parties accordingly, though with some disappointment at the lack of oversight of local councils like ours a new unfortunate discovery along the way. Regardless of the outcomes of that, I'm unsure what the long tail will be of the situation here for Wivenhoe as a community. I am a firm believer in diplomacy and working with others, and so do hope however in time rifts will heal through hard work and listening. I do fear that some damage is irreversible and that brings me no pleasure at all.

To end

Bringing us back to the hopeful here and now, of the heat of summertime, I'm trying to do my best to enjoy Old King George and his (not to be forgotten) horse-chestnut neighbour while they are there. As a regular visitor of the playground they face onto, I've watched every change with the seasons with heightened interest and joy. Even post haircut, Old King George is a significant presence over the playground.

In this heatwave (the third and perhaps not last of the summer), the role of the trees by the KGV playground has really been apparent. The playground is very exposed to sun at this time of year when it's so high in the sky, however in the morning Old King George keeps this corner cool enough to enjoy. At the same time, the slide on the opposite corner of the garden was too hot to play on with bare skin. The tree/hedgeline helps keep a big chunk of the park cooler in the day.

This wonderful shade is one of the top reasons for why I would love to see the trees saved. Easy to look at Old King George from the car park side and not understand why people care so strongly about saving these trees. But as you can see from my photo included in this update, the contribution from the children's playground side is undeniable. So many involved in the campaign are parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles for a reason.

There's a proverb - “A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit”. I wonder often what sort of society we will prove to be, whether an insurer will prioritise their bottom line or whether the gift of shade will last for many summers to come.

I am told the council's estate committee will meet this evening with the ‘High Street Car Park’ on the agenda (which is the agenda item under which the tree has been discussed previously), so we may not be waiting much longer to find out what Aviva and WTC plan to do next. I live in hope as ever for a constructive positive way forward.

It's easy to forget quite how far we've come. Six months ago, if you'd told me I'd be enjoying pushing my daughter on the swing still underneath the canopy of the old oak still today, I'd perhaps not have believed it possible.

I look at the canopy now and see an abundance of acorns is growing ready for autumn time. Perhaps a mast year. I too am readying myself to continue this labour of love to try to save Old King George, for at least as long as I see there to be a case to continue trying. I hope to bring good news at some point soon, or failing that, news.